The Danish Girl follows the journey of Einar (Lily) as she struggles with her gender identity and searches for her true self. Her inner conflict and the supportive love of her wife, Gerda, are at the center of the film, and in the end, Lily comes to accept herself and find true freedom. The film visually represents Lily’s transformation through color and symbolism, leaving a deeply emotional impact.
The story of Einar (Lily) and her courage to overcome gender identity confusion and find her true self, The Danish Girl is an inspiring journey. When I first saw the poster, I thought it was a love story between two women, but it turns out that Einar, who was born biologically male, has spent her life as a painter, painting swamps, and struggling to hide her true self, Lily, in the swamps within herself. In her paintings, the trees of Baile’s swamp sway and reflect distortedly in the water, mirroring the confusion with which she sees herself.
The landscape of Baile that we see at the beginning of the movie is the one she paints, and it’s also her home. The sense of security and fond memories of home must have always evoked complex emotions in him, especially the memories of Hans, who first made him question his identity as a child, which is why he continues to paint this place. Early in the film, as he continues to paint the swampy landscape of Vejle, Gerda says, “I feel like I’m going to fall into the swamp and disappear.” To which she replies, “The swamp is inside me,” indicating that the swamp, her hometown of Vejle, and her true identity are inside her. In this moment, the audience realizes that Einar is not simply describing nature, but is projecting her own deep confusion and conflict.
After Einar tries on women’s stockings at his wife’s request, he realizes that the cross-dressing he began playfully with his wife has led him to recognize the woman inside of him, Lily. From then on, she can’t stop living as Lily, and the movie captures the confusion and anguish that comes with it. These scenes are deeply affecting because they show that Anna’s struggle is more than just a personal one, but a battle against the prejudices of her time. As she attempts to repress her femininity in order to preserve her relationship with her beloved wife, Gerda, she visits several doctors, but it’s no easy task. Most doctors dismiss Ana’s gender identity confusion as mental illness, try superstitious treatments and eventually give up, but when she finally meets a doctor who understands her, she decides to undergo a procedure to remove her male genitals so she can live as Lily.
This scene is particularly poignant because it shows how much pain Aina has endured in order to be accepted for who she really is. When Aina says, “I think I’m a girl,” and Gerda responds, “I think so, too,” it shows what true love and understanding looks like, and the doctor’s words, “I agree with you,” symbolize a pivotal moment when Aina finally gains the courage to embrace her identity.
Another important aspect of the film is color. Since the story is about a painter, the scenes in the movie are drawn like a painting from the perspective of a painter. Lily, who always wore neutral colors when she was living as Anna, often wears colorful outfits when she’s dressed as a woman after she finds her true self. This acts as a visual symbol of Lily’s new life as she embraces her identity. In particular, the yellow scarf she receives from Gerda seems to represent Lily herself, as it marks an important turning point in her journey to find herself, while also symbolizing her inner light.
I also want to touch on Gerda’s love. After Anna, she’s probably the most confusing character in the movie, but her acceptance and support of Lily for who she is shows what true love is all about. Gerda’s presence alone makes Lily feel like a very blessed woman. When the man she was living with decided to become a woman, the decision to accept that decision and stay with him must not have been easy. The love that Gerda showed her was not just sympathy, but a love that truly understood and respected the other person, which must have helped her find herself.
When Lily finally found her true self, she was free. Even though the surgery resulted in her death, Lily’s spirit, like the scarf flying free in the final scene, will have found true freedom based on love and courage. It’s not just a personal story, it’s a story of self-discovery and true freedom that we all seek, and it’s one that will stay with us for a long time.
I’m a blog writer. I want to write articles that touch people’s hearts. I love Coca-Cola, coffee, reading and traveling. I hope you find happiness through my writing.