Set nearly a hundred years ago, The Danish Girl is a paean to the timelessness of an emotion that does not alter when it alteration finds.

It starts with a stocking and ends with scarf floating into space, portraying freedom. Lily has found her freedom. But she has left us a captive of her tragic tale for all times to come.

If you’re looking for a completely accurate retelling of Lili Elbe’s story, you might find yourself a little disappointed. The Danish Girl takes liberties with the true story, and some of the finer aspects are lost in the translation to the screen. Still, the film is a stellar addition to the filmographies of everyone involved, and is definitely worth watching.

The most intriguing aspect of The Danish Girl is that it is much more about that love story than it is about Lili’s road to self-discovery.

Hooper’s movie is far too ironed-out to adequately explore the creases and rips of the relationship. The Danish Girl proves that mainstream filmmakers are more receptive than before to tackling tricky subjects such as trans identity and the fluid boundaries between genders, but the movie also sets out the limits of this depiction.