Soul, love and art in the Danish Girl: Gender, culture and their representation in cinema

Abstract

The film, The Danish Girl, from 2015, introduces the viewer to Einar Wegener, a famous Danish painter, his wife, Gerda Wegener, and a trajectory of love, suffering and struggle for the affirmation of their gender identity. This production addresses delicate themes, such as transsexuality, marriage and even friendship. When we question the existence of respect for differences when we realize that much of our western culture is still immersed in its complexes and projections, remaining ignorant of its own identity and knowing little about its own gender. In this article, I sought to elucidate these aspects in an intimate analysis of Lili Elbe, as well as her representations in Gerda Wegener's paintings.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2023.006-025