Susanne Bier Movies
Director and occasional scriptwriter Susanne Bier essayed a series of helming assignments in her native Denmark during the late '90s and early 2000s, that clocked in as lucrative and popular enough to kick-start a highly respectable career for the filmmaker. Though Bier's credits officially date back to 1992, she achieved her first significant breakthrough in 1999, when she directed The One and Only -- a well-received romantic comedy about dating, marriage, child-rearing, and adultery. That film reportedly grossed a heftier amount than any picture in Danish history; a follow-up, the Dogme 95 drama Open Hearts (2002), brought Bier her first international crossover hit and paved the way for much additional success. Shot according to Lars von Trier's hyper-ascetic filmmaking rules, it told of two couples whose lives become hopelessly and tragically enmeshed following a severe automobile accident. Bier's Danish-language drama Brothers (2004) explored the feud that erupts between two siblings as impacted by the tumult of war, while After the Wedding (2006) explored the moral and ethical quandaries plaguing the head of an orphanage (Mads Mikkelsen) when he is offered a donation -- some strings attached -- by his ex-girlfriend's millionaire husband.Wedding gleaned a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar for Bier -- a vital touchstone, for it brought Hollywood beckoning, and in 2007 she mounted her first Tinseltown effort under the aegis of DreamWorks. The much-anticipated drama Things We Lost in the Fire (2007) starred Halle Berry as a suddenly and tragically widowed housewife whose path crisscrosses with that of a lonely heroin addict (Benicio Del Toro), who had been her husband's best friend. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1999
A big hit in its native Denmark, this feel-good romantic comedy is about sex, children, marriage, and infidelity. The film focuses on two married couples. Sus (Sidse Babett Knudsen) and her Italian husband Sonny (Rafael Edholm) are debating whether or not to have a child; he's eager to have one while she waffles. Meanwhile, Niller (Niels Olsen) and Lizzie (Sos Egelind) decide to adopt a baby girl from Africa. When Niller and Sus meet for the first time, sparks fly, but nothing ultimately happens. Later, though, a pregnant Sus dumps Sonny after learning of his philandering, and her thoughts once again return to Niller. Den Eneste En was screened at the 1999 Haugesund Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Niels Olsen, Sos Egelind, (more)
- 1995
In this Swedish black comedy based on a script by popular gay writer and standup-comic Jonas Gardell, the father of a family is inspired to pursue his true destiny after he takes his family to the Pensioniat Oskar and meets Petrus, a handsome handyman. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This Danish film has a comic beginning and a tragic end as it follows a Danish man on his quest to find his biological father in Portugal. When Jan, a man in his thirties, suddenly discovers he is adopted he immediately sets out to find his birth parents. His mother, an ex-cabaret singer is not too hard to find. Together the two head off in a taxi to a small town in Portugal to search for dad. Upon arrival, the mother refuses to assist any further and locks herself in her hotel room. As Jan searches, he meets and falls in love with Constanca. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philip Zandén, Ghita Nørby, (more)
- 1991
Not many people know about it, but there is a sizeable Swedish Jewish community even today. In this story, the sixtieth birthday of Cohen-family matriarch Rosha is the occasion for a gathering of her children from the diverse places around the world where they have settled. The central character in this drama, however, is Angelique, whose interest in psychoanalysis has earned her the nickname of "Freud." Her older brother is gay and lives in Florida with his lover. Her older sister has married into an Orthodox family, and lives in Jerusalem. They have all gathered in Sweden for their grandmother's birthday. Meanwhile, Rosha's daughter, the mother of these diverse children, has taken ill and is in the hospital. She has been diagnosed with a very advanced, inoperable brain tumor. Freud, who never left home, is perhaps as upset by this news as anyone, and she startles everyone by going out and beginning an affair with a biker. However, she is deeply involved in the new situation: she insists that their mother be brought home from the hospital rather than being allowed to suffer and die there, and the party, now a much more dramatic event, eventually takes place. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ghita Nørby, Gunilla Roor, (more)
- 1989
This pseudo-documentary chronicles, in a high-flown anthropological manner, the preliminary preparations men and women in Denmark make before they make love, and the things they do afterwards. Subjects are shown shaving, putting on make-up, dressing carefully, etc., and then getting together and caressing one another. The sex act itself is omitted. Then the subjects are shown smoking, deciding to put on their clothes and then deciding not to (for another bout of lovemaking). All is presented in a dry, non-emotional style. Adding to the documentary flavor of this experimental film (part of a series by the director) is footage from the Trobriand Islands, an hommage to anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski's groundbreaking work earlier in the century. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claus Nissen, Stina Ekblad, (more)
A woman who lost her husband in a random act of violence and a heroin addict who was a lifelong friend of the dearly departed discover that the beloved husband and friend's unfortunate passing is actually a blessing in disguise in Open Hearts director Susanne Bier's Dogme-style drama. When her husband (David Duchovny) was killed, Audrey Burke (Halle Berry) didn't think she would be able to summon the strength to carry on. Jerry Sunborne (Benicio Del Toro) is a heroin addict who was one of the recently deceased's oldest friends in life, but as a result of his addiction Jerry has lost everything that ever mattered to him. When Audrey discovers that Jerry is the one man who could help her move beyond the dire cycle of grieving that she has fallen into, her offer for him to move in with the family provides the addict with just the incentive he needed to finally get his life back in order. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny, (more)
A multi-millionaire wants to know how much his money can really buy in this drama from Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier. Though born and raised in Denmark, Jacob Peterson (Mads Mikkelsen) has made a life for himself in India, where he runs an orphanage for homeless children. While Jacob cares little for money, raising funds is part of the responsibilities of his position, and when he learns that Jørgan (Rolf Lassgård), a wealthy Danish businessman, is willing to donate four million dollars under the condition that he meet with him in person, Jacob grudgingly hops a flight back home. Once in Denmark, Jørgan insists that Jacob attend the wedding of his daughter the next day; at the celebration he meets Jørgan's wife, Helene (Sidse Babett Knudsen), whom he recognizes as someone he knew many years ago. As Jacob finds himself revisiting a past he would prefer to forget, he discovers that Jørgan has an ulterior motive for bringing him to Denmark -- the wealthy man is in poor health, and while the donation will help ease some of his guilt over a life of avarice, he's also looking for someone to take over as Helene's husband after he dies. Efter Brylluppet (aka After the Wedding) received its North American premiere at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mads Mikkelsen, Rolf Lassgård, (more)
Two brothers unwittingly exchange roles under the fog of war in this powerful drama. Michael (Ulrich Thomsen) and Jannick (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) are two brothers who have always meshed as well as oil and water. Michael is a caring husband and father who risen to the rank of major in the Danish Army, while Jannick is an alcoholic with a violent streak who has been in and out of prison much of his life. Jannick has just been released after serving time for armed robbery when Michael learns he's being sent to Afghanistan; Jannick quarrels with both Michael and his parents at a going-away dinner, which does nothing to endear him to Michael's wife, Sarah (Connie Nielsen). However, when Sarah receives word that Michael's helicopter has been shot down and the crew has gone missing, Jannick tries to assume some degree of familial responsibility, helping Sarah with the children and helping to keep the house in repair. As the months roll on, Jannick finds that family life agrees with him; he cuts back on his drinking, gets a job, and grows increasingly fond of Sarah, who also takes a liking to her brother-in-law's new style. However, as Jannick finally grows into a responsible adult, he and Sarah learn that Michael has been released from an Afghan military prison and is being sent home. As Sarah and Jannick come to terms with their feelings for one another, they are disturbed by Michael's new presence; after several hellish months in captivity, he's become an angry and emotionally broken man, who is haunted by ugly memories and suspects his wife and brother of betrayal. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Connie Nielsen, Ulrich Thomsen, (more)
- 2002
- R
Two people are brought together by a tragic accident in this emotional drama. Joachim (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and Cecilie (Sonja Richter) are a couple in Copenhagen who've fallen deeply in love and have made plans to marry. One day, Joachim is severely injured in an auto accident when he's struck by a woman named Marie (Paprika Steen), leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. As fate would have it, the doctor put in charge of Joachim's care is Niels (Mads Mikkelsen), who happens to be Marie's husband. Joachim, deeply depressed since the accident, tells Cecilie to leave him and find someone else, but while she intends to stay with the man she loves, she finds it increasingly difficult to deal with his mood swings and frequent anger. Meanwhile, Marie, wracked with guilt over the accident, asks her husband to look after Cecilie, and as they spend more and more time together, they find themselves becoming increasingly attracted. Eventually, Cecilie and Niels become lovers, leaving them both to deal with their betrayal of the people they've sworn to stand by. Filmed following the austere guidelines of the Dogma 95 movement, Open Hearts received its North American premier at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival and was screened in competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sonja Richter, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, (more)
Director Saul Dibb takes the helm for this period drama adapted from Amanda Foreman's best-selling novel Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, documenting the romantic entanglements of Georgiana Cavendish (Keira Knightley), a beautiful and clever woman who becomes a celebrity of British high society when she marries the Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes) and becomes consort to one of the most powerful men in England. Beloved for her trend-setting fashion designs as well as her political activism, Georgiana's fire and wit make her a beloved figure everywhere but her own home, where her cold and distant husband's control over her is stifling, soon sending her into the arms of a another man -- an act that soon forces her to learn about the brutal difference in the rights afforded to 18th century men and women. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, (more)
