The Danish Girl transforms fascinating truths into tasteful, safe drama
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jan/13/the-danish-girl-transforms-fascinating-truths-into-tasteful-safe-drama
The Guardian/Alex von Tunzelmann Wednesday 13 January 2016 05.26 EST
"The film begins in Copenhagen in 1926. Einar (Eddie Redmayne) is a successful artist and virile husband to fellow painter Gerda (Alicia Vikander). One day, a model is late. Gerda asks Einar to pose, wearing the silk stockings and glittery shoes of a dancer. This triggers a gender identity crisis, culminating in Einar becoming Lili. Can slipping on a pair of silk stockings make you transgender? No. The incident is drawn from Man into Woman, a memoir compiled from Lili's diaries after her death by an editor, "Niels Hoyer" (really Ernst Ludwig Jacobson). In the memoir, it's presented as part of a chain of events rather than the decisive moment in Einar's transition to Lili – though it was, as in the film, the moment she received her new name."
I recently watched this movie. I found it quite interesting and relevant, even if it wasn't 100% accurate.
I have noticed that most often, in these movies, there is some lure, or twist of fate, or coercion, or otherwise inescapable circumstance involved. Going back in time, this theme becomes more and more pronounced. For example there was a comedy that I think came out in the 90s about two undercover cops, who as part of an assignment to infiltrate a school I think, were required to pose as females. Tootsie, Mrs. Doubtfire, etc. is the same deal. There are a million examples. It's like saying, I'm not really "that way", I'm just a guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got swept up in it. It makes the story easier to digest for those who are intrigued by the concept, but who still view it as an aberration. So the choice is taken away and replaced with some higher purpose or motivation, other than simply wanting to.
@AvaNovum and I watched The Danish Girl together. Keep a full box of tissues handy.