The Danish Girl (2015)

Who is the title character of The Danish Girl (2015)? Is it Alicia Vikander in her Oscar-winning turn? Or is it Einar Wegener, a painter at the last turn of the century? While studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Einar (Eddie Redmayne) meets and marries fashion illustrator Gerda Gottlieb (Vikander). Later, when Gerda’s model is a no-show, her hubby steps in to save the day, posing in women’s clothing. One thing leads to another and before you can say “gender bender,” the Danish guy is undergoing early sex reassignment surgery. Now known as Lili Elbe, the trans artist opts for a uterus transplant but dies due to complications. Consequently, Elbe’s semi-autobiography “Man into Woman: An Authentic Record of a Change of Sex” was published posthumously in 1933. By 2000, David Ebershoff penned the novel “The Danish Girl” based on this story. Next came the same-named film adaptation. Under the direction of Tom Hooper, this period piece includes Danish ballerina Ulla Poulsen (Amber Heard) and German gynecologist Dr. Kurt Warnekros (Sebastian Koch). The film also features Emerald Fennell, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Mr. Redmayne’s flesh. In one scene, the topless actor shows off his alabaster chest and white boxer shorts. In another, he goes full frontal as he tucks in his cock! If that’s not kinky enough, his character dresses in drag in order to steal a kiss from Henrik Sandahl (Ben Whishaw). Although the movie received mixed reviews, it did well at the box office and in skinternational spank banks!