Beautifully Photographed, Brilliantly Performed

Rating: Null/10 (29 March 2016)

In the bonus segment of the DVD version of "The Danish Girl," the film artists discussed how the paintings of Vilhelm Hammershøi, a Danish artist of the early twentieth century, were the inspiration for many of the interior scenes of the film. Those stark scenes were successful in conveying the sense of loneliness that pervades the life of Lili, the central character, Lili Elbe.
Because Lili and Gerda Wegener were both painters, the film offered a stylish approach to the environments that supported the main themes of the film. Additionally, the beautifully photographed exterior scenes added new layers to the feeling of isolation of the Lili and Gerda from each other.
The casting of the film was superb with an excellent ensemble. But the two unforgettable performances were those of Alicia Vikander and Eddie Redmayne as Gerda and Lili. There was nothing artificial about their character portraits, as they probed deeply into the interior life of the characters to portray their souls.
The hallmark of a great film is that it delivers a meaningful message and draws upon the artistry of the film medium. "The Danish Girl" fulfills both of those criteria in a stellar way. Bravo!