The fictitious story based on the lives of  Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Based on the novel of the same name by David Ebershoff. Starring Alicia Vikander, Eddie Redmayne, Tusse Silberg, Amber Heard, Matthias Schoenaerts.

Sets, costumes, makeup- this film has it all, and it is beautiful.  Unfortunately, the story is both disturbing and insufficient for the topic it tackles, which is that of early transgender issues and operations. They gloss over the complexity of this haunting story of Lili, an intersex person living in the 1920’s with her artist wife. Although doctors understood her condition, they did not have the proper medical means to correct it. Lili dies because her body rejects a uterus transplant.

In addition, her wife Gerda (played by Vikander) married Lili when she was still known as the man Einar.  She struggles to accept and encourage her husband/wife’s transformation while in despair over her lost marriage.  It is heartbreaking. The performances by Redmayne and Vikander are marvelous and poignant; it is just disappointing that they are contained within an unremarkable film.  This film is a pass.