Mostly true story of an early transgender case in Denmark.

Rating: Null/10 (29 April 2016)

Watched it on DVD loan from my local public library. Looking up a few details it seems to be a mostly true depiction of what actually occurred. However the 40-something couple in the 1920s are played by much younger actors here.
In short husband and wife are happily married painters. He (Einar) seems to be somewhat more successful (accepted) than she (Gerda) is. In an instance where her normal female model is unavailable she has her husband put on stockings, makeup, and a wig so he can model for her. Doing so seems to trigger a long latent desire for him to actually be a woman. He starts to call himself Lili when dressed as a woman and dresses that way more and more.
This was the 1920s and not so much was known about such transgender feelings and also little about surgery to facilitate a gender reassignment. At one point Einar has to leave town to avoid arrest and forced treatment for his "crime."
Perhaps this movie would have had a greater impact a few decades ago, because the recent transgender process for Bruce Jenner, Olympics Decathlon Champion, to become Caitlyn Jenner has been so publicized that a viewer could take a "ho-hum" view of this sort of thing. However it is a good movie of an important time of transition and Vikander won the Oscar for best supporting actress. Although Redmane does a remarkable job in his role and might have won Best Actor in a different year.
In spite of the actual topic to me the better story here is of love and commitment, his wife truly loved him, even after he began his transition, she never gets angry or plays the victim, she understands him and supports him. That part of the story can get lost among the rest.
Alicia Vikander is Gerda Wegener and Eddie Redmayne is Einar Wegener who becomes Lili Elbe. Unfortunately, as history tells us, Lili did not survive her last surgery, probably a result of organ rejection.