25/02/2016

WAITING FOR THE OSCARS, I'VE SEEN A FEW: THE DANISH GIRL

Waiting to discover this year’s winners in a few days, I’ve been watching a few of the nominated films. What about discussing one of them a day till the Oscars Show on Saturday Night? Here's the first one. 


The Danish Girl


Synopsis

Copenhagen, 1926. Danish artist, Gerda Wegener, painted her own husband, Einar Wegener (Eddie Redmayne), as a lady in her painting. When the painting gained popularity, Einar started to change his appearance into a female appearance and named himself Lili Elbe. With his feminism passion and Gerda's support, Einar - or Elbe - attempted one of the first male-to-female sex reassignment surgery, a decision that turned into a massive change for their marriage, that Gerda realized her own husband is no longer a man or the person she married before. A childhood friend of Einar, art-dealer Hans Axgil (Matthias Schoenaerts), shows up and starts a complex love triangle with the couple (from imdb)

My musings

I expected a more provoking movie, tough and tragic.  I expected a story stirring a strong emotional reaction,  highlighting a fight against prejudice and biology, based on blood and suffering. It is, instead,  a lyrical  account, a delicate portrait which results more bittersweet than tragic.
Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander are touching in their roles, they deliver first-rate performances and would deserve an Oscar. If Redmayne Oscar-winning transformation for “The Theory of Everything” was convincing, his performance as Lili Elbe in "The Danish Girl" is outstanding. But what stayed in my mind, after all, is Gerda’s troubled, painful acceptance of her husband’s choice. He chose, she didn’t. And Alicia Vikander gives shape and substance to all her pain.

The cast includes Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Ben Whishaw, Matthias Schoenaerts and Adrian Schiller.

Director: Tom Hooper


The DVD will be released on 1st March, 2016.




Nominated in 4 categories

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Eddie Redmayne 
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Alicia Vikander 
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Paco Delgado 
Best Achievement in Production Design
Eve Stewart (production design)

Michael Standish (set decoration) 


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I cried for half of the movie. I found it delicate and emotional at the same time. Eddie won't win because this is Leo's year but I hope Alicia Vikaneer will be recognised for the great artist she is. X Antonella PS Love your reviews btw.

Maria Grazia said...

Thanks for reading and commenting, Antonella. I know this is supposed to be Leo's year, at last! Eddie is incredibly good in this movie, even more than in "The Theory of Everything", I think, but two nominations in a row and a win can be considered a stunning result for a young actor, in any case. Fingers crossed for Alicia Vikander, then!