In the film, it's hard not to be completely captivated by Vikander, who is, not surprisingly, already the subject of awards talk. During the Q&A, she and Redmayne both discussed how The Danish Girl is a two-hander.
I was just sucker-punched by the emotion of it, Redmayne said of the script. This idea of two formidable people going on this journey together, and the notion of love not being defined by gender, not being defined by anything but the two souls meeting, really.
Personally, I fell in love with Gerda in an early scene. She is painting a portrait, and her sitter is visibly nervous. She tells him that it is difficult for a man to sit for a woman. Women, she explains, are used to the male gaze. For a man to submit to a womans gaze is unsettling, she says slyly. Gerda is funny and playful, and her playfulness helps draw Lili out, as she encourages Lili who actually, at this point, is still going by Einar to attend a ball as her true female self. As an artist, Gerda is inspired by Lili. Painting Lili wins her the success in the art world she craved and brings her out of Einars artistic shadow. But, she also fears this means she bears responsibility for her spouses suffering. Vikander makes Gerdas heartbreak multifaceted, while still maintaining her ferocious soul.
