The Danish Girl: a personal view

• Posted by Hannah Ceridwen Eluned Cavendish-Grosvenor January 9, 2016 Filed in Society Girl's Personal Blogs 1,206 views
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  On my way to join the farming community's weekly social meeting in the Lord Eldon, last night, I bumped into Dave from Tatton Park, mission bent to visit the 'Tap and Bottle". He reported that his wife and sister were eating and would be at our local cinema at 6pm to watch 'The Danish Girl'. John, in our pub, confirmed it; and, I abandoned ship, fleeing to join them. Diane, a BBC producer was there as well. I know just about everybody in our large village; and, not only were there only a handful of husbands in the audience; but, no other Trans-woman. After the film, I treated my friends (joined now by Dave) to coffee and free mince pies. The girls stated that they were so emotional that they burst into tears.

   

  I was riveted to the film and it's absolutely breath-taking outdoor photography. As I explained, I had to abandon Rebecca Root's previous, 4-part TV film 'Boy meets Girl' at the point he asks in front of the astonished waiter "what's it like?" She replies "like being locked in a cell with no hope of a release date" or words to that effect. I have also been in an adjoining prison cell for over 6o years: no comfort from a release date, wondering if there will ever be a chance that they will unlock the door. Like Elvar intimated to Gerda, once you start down the path, there is no going back, and it is that moment the key enters the lock that triggers the pathway.

   

  I also discussed the film's one obvious weaknes: Elvar has a 'biblical' revelation when he deputises for a portrait of a lady who is late for her session, wears silk stockingings over his rolled-up trousers and holds a dress in front of himself, refusing to wear it; and, only secumbing, reluctantly, to wearing the pretty shoes. The implication in the film's story-line was that he had been your typical cis-gender male; and, suddenly 'converted' to what we now define as Gender Dissanance. Now all genuine ICD-F64.0 Gender Dysphoric people are, by definition, sufferers from life-long discomfort with, and tormented by, their apparent gender. All of us are aware of our gender dissonace at 3 to 5 years of age: in pre Tavistock Clinic days we could do nothing about it, unless we were heroically brave, thick-skinned and impervious to Society's mediaeval punishments. Suppression and concealment were so essential to our continued existance that we 'blanked out our true identity , as too painful to bear. Maybe this was Lili's path, or was it just the confused script?

   

  The film did not dwell on Lili's trail-blaising, and until now largely forgotten, Transition. She had Gender Revision Surgery with construction of a vagina. What was not made clear was the purpose of the second operation in Germany, which killed her. She had the world's first transplantation of ovaries and a uterus: no wonder she was doomed, nearly one hundred years before the proceedure has recently been repeated with tissue-typing and immuno-suppression in one or two cis-females. the Guardian newspaper was somewhat unkind, but I note the comment that the operating table has been substituted with the coffee table.

   

  For me , one or two personal touches: concealing penis and testes between the legs, in front of the mirror, before or after a shower, to see what one is like after the GIC give authority for surgery to proceed. The wonderful release when making the effort to 'look nice' in appropriate female garb, as opposed to the unisex clothing we normally wear as every-day clothing. The persistent intransigent attitude of many male members of my profession in their intense Trans-phobia, comes across when she seeks help and treatment. We now know exactly what they put April Ashley and other pioneers through: but, remember that these barbaric treatments were still being used in the 21st century in the UK! West Midlands Strategic Health Auuthority only abandoned funding Electro-convulsive Therapy for Trans-women a month or two before the 2004 Act was drafted. So, in 2003 the NHS in England and Wales was happy to continue to punish us for what we are. Finally, I greatly admire Rebecca Root, and it was lovely to see her playing a cis-gender woman, as Lili's nurse.

   

  In two words: "Loved it"!