A Short Film Analysis and Reflection on the Film “The Danish Girl”

Einar Wegener, the main character in the film The Danish Girl, is a man who
is married to Greta Wegener. Both of them are painters; Einar is successful with
his landscape paintings while Greta is still struggling to make her own distinction
in the world of arts. When she is offered to create a portrait of the famous opera
singer, Anna Forksman, she asks her husband to pose for her since the subject
isn’t available at that time. Both of them are so pleased of what has transpired at
that moment, Greta suggests that they call his alter-ego “Lili” and it is at that time
Einar started to feel that she is a woman trapped in a man’s body.
Gerda initially supports Einar to sometimes play as Lili, she even allows
Einar to attend a party dressed as a lady. It was all fun for her but for Einar, he
feels like he is exploring his feminine side and that his real self should start living
as a proper woman. It is also mentioned in the film that when Einar was in his
youth, he was kissed by a friend because he was “so pretty”, this wasn’t focused
in the film but maybe that incident also triggered his real identity. Gerda knows
that something’s up with Einar’s sexuality but she is in denial and when Einar
confessed his true identity, Gerda wants her situation cured but it only leads to
nowhere. Moreover, Gerda knows in herself that Einar won’t be happy being
Einar, and then she comes to a realization to let him give the freedom that he
wants from himself. Few days later, Greta wants him to do what he needs to do
to have a fulfilled life even though this means losing her husband. And for Einar,
despite of the prejudice, social dictation, and discrimination, he boldly attempted
to undergo a risky experimental sex reassignment surgery which made him one of
the first recipients of the said surgery.
Einar and Gerda have consulted multiple doctors but then they only
received discrimination from the medical field and told Einar that he is insane and
just a pervert. In my opinion, Einar doesn’t have any psychological issues, he was
just confused of what he felt and didn’t know what he can do about it. He was
just trying to seek for answers but got judgment instead.
Gender reassignment is a very serious divisive controversy especially in the
Philippines. But in my own opinion, I would be against this procedure because
aside from my religious background, the fact that it is very risky is enough reason
to not do it. It is also irreversible and few people who have done it said that they
weren’t satisfied with their life after the surgery. But if other people would be
happy about it, why would we stop them from doing it?