Mia’s journey in A Copenhagen Love Story is not just about her desire to have a child—it’s about how that desire challenges her sense of self. From the beginning, we see that Mia is a strong-willed, independent woman who has built a successful career as a writer. However, as she becomes more fixated on fertility treatments, she begins to lose sight of who she is outside of her struggle to conceive. Her identity shifts from being a confident writer to someone who feels defined solely by her ability—or inability—to have a baby.
This identity crisis takes a toll on her relationship with Emil. At first, their love is playful and full of mutual respect, but as Mia’s desperation to become a mother grows, she becomes irritable and distant. She begins directing her frustrations at Emil and his two children, seeing them as reminders of what she does not have. Her resentment surfaces in subtle ways—she withdraws from family moments, reacts coldly to Emil’s support, and eventually uses her writing to process her pain in a way that excludes him.
Mia’s struggle with self-worth is one of the most compelling aspects of the film. The inability to conceive makes her feel “unlovable,” as she later admits to Emil. She convinces herself that he will eventually stop loving her if she cannot give him a child, leading her to sabotage their relationship before he can leave her. Her identity crisis manifests in self-destructive behaviors—she isolates herself, lashes out at loved ones, and ultimately walks away from the relationship entirely.
The turning point comes when Mia acknowledges that her worth is not tied to her ability to have a baby. Her reconciliation with Emil is not about a guaranteed future pregnancy, but about rebuilding their love on a foundation of honesty and acceptance. By the end of the film, Mia finds strength in vulnerability, realizing that love does not hinge on success or failure. Her journey underscores a powerful message: true self-worth must come from within, not from external circumstances.