A captivating performance by Eddie Redmayne fails to hide a somewhat saccharine-sweet treatment of transgender and the pioneering Lili Elbe in Europe in the 1920s.
An important film in bringing such a subject to the mainstream – and director Tom Hooper brings integrity by the bucketload. Artist Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander) asks husband Einar to fill in as a female portrait model, resulting in a realisation that changes their world. Whilst sensitively handled, the problem is that it all looks so clean and pretty (sumptuous costume and production designs). The final result is a delicate piece of porcelain when a more earthy, gritty, emotional film was needed.
Nominated for 4 Oscars (including best actor), won 1 for Alicia Vikander, best supporting actress.
Rating: 60%
Director: Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, Les Miserables)
Writer: Lucinda Coxon (Wild Target, The Life of Me) – based on the book by David Ebershoff
Main cast: Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, Les Miserables), Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, Testament of Youth)
An Opinion or Two 