'The Danish Girl': Is Redmayne Right for the Role?

So, cards on the table, I rather enjoyed The Danish Girl. Walking into the cinema, my head was full of Hollywood's transphobia and Peter Bradshaw referring to the film's 'tasteful chocolate-box presentation' of trans issues. Both criticisms are obviously valid; you do end up peering through several layers of polish to catch a glimpse of the complexity lurking behind the cisgender Redmayne's doe-eyed face. All edges are nicely rounded off, easing consumption. But all the same, there was a lump in my throat. The same feeling, coincidently, I got at the end of Tom Hooper's previous take on Les Mis, but this time much more acute.

Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl

And then I thought, maybe the film's accessibility is its greatest strength. Not many people brim with excitement at the thought of an 'edgy and unsparing glimpse into the transgender community' (unfortunately), but they might opt for 'a tragic romance and the story of one woman's quest to be herself'. The stringy score and ever-present prettily moist eyes should have been enough to signal that this film is aiming to take a difficult and complex story and make it Hollywood.

The cherry on the cake of this pristine flick would surely be Redmayne himself, wouldn't it? Fresh from his Oscar win, and enough of a heart-throb to attract unconditional internet adoration, surely he's perfect for the role. Well, not really.

'In a few years time, it will be as unacceptable for cisgender male actors to play trans women as it is now for white actors to portray black roles' is the confident assertion of Mary Cook in The Mary Sue. The basic argument for the immorality of Redmayne's casting is that transgender actors are marginalised enough as it is, rarely bagging cisgender roles and now even denied trans-roles. Plus, it speaks volumes having Lili Elbe, a woman, played by Eddie Redmayne, a man. It's hard to deny that the transgender rights bloggers have a point. Plus, in the eyes of some, Redmayne's got previous for (stunningly) playing motor neurone disease sufferer Stephen Hawking as an able-bodied man. To be honest, things aren't looking good for Eddie.

Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club

Is it possible to redeem Redmayne? He's not as bad as Jared Leto at any rate. Leto has gone around making jokes about cross-dressing after his role as a transgender woman in Dallas Buyers Club, and in the film, journalist and transgender activist Paris Lees picked up on the way Leto's character never bats an eyelid when repeatedly referred to as 'he' when she is, in fact, female. Redmayne, on the other hand, has done his research. He's been talking to the brilliant Lana Wachowski, part of the team behind The Matrix and Sense-8, and former Vogue model April Ashley. He's even won Lees' grudging approval, with her admitting that 'politically, it makes me groan. But if anybody's going to do it justice then I'm happy it's Eddie'.

Rather oddly considering the backlash, Redmayne seems to think he's doing the transgender community a favour, telling The Independent of his 'responsibility of not only educating myself, but hopefully using that to educate' others. What's even odder is that I sort of agree with him. Redmayne will have taken his fanbase along with him, and after seeing The Danish Girl, it's hard not to leave with an awareness of the incredible bravery of transgender men and women. Yes, this message would have been even more powerful if you had a trans actress in the role, but at least this way the message is reaching people which it usually wouldn't.

Paris Lees

Even if you do legitimately have a problem with Redmayne in the role, is it still possible to enjoy the film? You only need to head to film blog 'Fallen Rocket' to read an intelligent consideration of how buying a ticket for The Danish Girl affects Hollywood decision making, and it's hard to arrive at a clear answer as to whether supporting the film in this way is a good thing in the long run. Lees, however, is quite open about enjoying even the more-objectionable Leto in Dallas Buyer's Club. Show me someone who doesn't think that Hilary Swank was perfect for the role of Brandon Teena in Boy's Don't Cry and I shall be amazed.

It remains to be seen if Redmayne has done more harm than good to the transgender community, although I sincerely hope not as he is utterly brilliant in The Danish Girl. His discomfort in a male body is palpable from the start, and Lili becomes an increasingly complex character as the film progresses. But maybe, although its always a good idea to be aware of the political implications of a trip to the cinema, there's also a time to just switch off and enjoy a film without worrying about the morality of its casting.