Susanne Bier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Susanne Bier
Bier in 2011
Born	(1960-04-15) 15 April 1960 (age 65) Copenhagen, Denmark
Alma mater	Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Architectural Association in London, National Film School of Denmark
Occupation	Director writer producer
Years active	1991–present
Spouse(s)	Tómas Gislason (198?–?; divorced) Philip Zandén (1995–?; divorced) Jesper Winge Leisner (?-present)
Children	Gabriel Bier Gislason, Alice Bier Zandén

Susanne Bier (Danish: [suˈsænə ˈpiɐ̯ˀ]; born 15 April 1960) is a famous Danish filmmaker. She is known for directing many popular movies and TV shows. Susanne Bier made history as the first female director to win several major awards. These include an Academy Award (also known as an Oscar), a Golden Globe Award, a European Film Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

She won the Academy Award for her film In a Better World (2010). She also won a Primetime Emmy Award for directing the TV series The Night Manager (2016). Her other well-known films include Open Hearts (2002), Brothers (2004), and Bird Box (2018). On TV, she also directed The Undoing (2020) and The First Lady (2022).

Early Life and Education

Susanne Bier was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 15, 1960. Her family was Jewish. Her father's family moved to Denmark from Germany in 1933. This was because of the rise of a difficult political situation in Germany. Her mother's family came to Denmark from Russia earlier, to escape unfair treatment.

In 1943, during World War II, both families had to flee Denmark for Sweden. They, like many Danish Jewish people, escaped to avoid being sent to special camps. Three years after the war ended, they returned to Denmark. These experiences taught Bier's parents strong values. They taught their children about being strong and keeping their dignity, even in tough times. These ideas later became important themes in her films.

As a child, Bier described herself as someone who loved reading books. She also enjoyed playing football with boys. After high school, she wanted to learn more about her Jewish background. So, she studied art at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. Later, she studied architecture in London. Finally, she decided to focus on film. She graduated from the National Film School of Denmark in 1987. Her graduation film, De Saliges (1987), won an award and was shown on TV.

Career Highlights

Early Films and Breakthrough

Susanne Bier started her career directing music videos and commercials. Her first feature film was Freud's Leaving Home (1991). She directed several other films in the 1990s. These included Family Matters (1993) and Credo (1997).

Her big breakthrough in Denmark came with The One and Only in 1999. This was a romantic comedy about life's challenges. The film won many Danish film awards. It became one of the most successful Danish films ever.

International Recognition

Bier gained international attention with Open Hearts (2002). This film explored difficult emotions and interconnected lives. It was made using a special filmmaking style called Dogme 95. This style meant using a more simple and realistic approach to filming.

After Open Hearts, Bier's fame grew. She directed Brothers (2004) and After the Wedding (2006). After the Wedding was even nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Susanne Bier in 2009

Her first English-language film was Things We Lost in the Fire (2007). It starred famous actors like Benicio del Toro and Halle Berry. Then, she won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for In a Better World (2010).

Freud's Leaving Home was praised by critics. It was one of the first films in Sweden to show Swedish-Jewish culture. The One and Only (1999) was a Danish romantic comedy. It was seen as a new kind of romantic comedy for Denmark. It won awards for Best Film in 1999.

Rise to Prominence

Open Hearts (2002) was very well-received. It got a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Susanne Bier won an award at the Toronto International Film Festival for this film. The judges said it showed how the Dogme 95 style could capture real emotions. The film also won awards for Best Danish Film in 2003.

Bier's next film was Brothers (2004). It tells the story of two brothers, Michael and Jannik. Michael is a soldier who goes to Afghanistan. His helicopter is shot down, and he is thought to be dead. While he is gone, his brother Jannik helps take care of Michael's family. Michael eventually returns home, but things are very different. The film explores the difficult feelings people have after being in tough situations like war. It won several awards, including an audience award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

Her film After the Wedding (2006) tells the story of Jacob Petersen. He runs an orphanage in India. He works hard to help the children. The film was very popular and was nominated for an Oscar. A magazine called Time named it one of the top 10 movies of 2007. They said it was a "dark, richly mounted film" that showed how people deal with difficult situations. This film was later remade in English in 2019.

In Things We Lost in the Fire (2007), we meet Audrey. Her husband dies trying to help someone. She then forms a connection with a friend of her husband. They help each other deal with their sadness and find happiness again. Critics generally liked the film.

In a Better World (2010) is a Danish drama thriller. It was written by Anders Thomas Jensen and directed by Susanne Bier. The story takes place in a small town in Denmark and a refugee camp in Africa. The film won the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Susanne Bier said the film explores how easily people can feel something is unfair. Critics called it a "powerful and captivating drama."

Susanne Bier at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2015

In 2012, Bier directed Love Is All You Need. This was a Danish romantic comedy starring Pierce Brosnan. In 2013, she was a judge at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2014, she directed her second American film, Serena. It was a drama starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. She also directed the Danish thriller A Second Chance (2014). Love Is All You Need was named best comedy film at the 26th European Film Awards.

Serena (2014) was based on a book. It starred Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper as a married couple running a timber business. Critics did not like Serena very much. A Second Chance (2014) was a Danish thriller. It was shown at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

Television Work

Susanne Bier took a break from films to direct The Night Manager (2016). This was a British TV series starring Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. It was based on a book by John le Carré. The series was very popular and was sold to over 180 countries. The Night Manager was nominated for 36 awards and won 11. This included two Emmy Awards (one for Bier as director) and three Golden Globe Awards.

After this, Bier directed the American horror film Bird Box (2018). It starred Sandra Bullock. The film was released on Netflix and became one of the most-watched films in Netflix history.

Bier also directed the TV series The Undoing (2020) for HBO. It starred Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. The Undoing became HBO's most-watched show of 2020.

Most recently, Bier directed The First Lady (2022) for Showtime. This series starred Viola Davis and Michelle Pfeiffer. She also directed The Perfect Couple (2024) for Netflix. It stars Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber.

Style and Themes

Susanne Bier's films often explore how families deal with big changes. She looks at how people handle difficult events in their lives. She is interested in moments when people's sense of safety is shaken. Her films often ask questions about right and wrong. For example, how far would someone go to help a child in trouble?

Bier's directing style gives actors a lot of freedom. They can often improvise their lines and actions. Her films often use a handheld camera style. During emotional moments, she uses very close-up shots of eyes, lips, and hands. This makes the audience feel very close to the characters' emotions.

Even though her films often show sad events, Bier makes sure to end them with a hopeful feeling. She believes it's important to connect with her audience and give them some light.

Influences

Susanne Bier says her Jewish background gave her a strong sense of family. It also made her aware of how quickly things can change. Her parents had to flee their homes during World War II. This experience made her interested in how happy, comfortable characters face sudden sadness.

Bier says that family is her biggest influence. She talks to her parents every day and has close relationships with her relatives. She even stays close with her ex-husband. This strong desire for close relationships influences the stories she tells.

She often sets her films in different parts of the world, like Africa or India. She wants to show that these places are connected to our lives. Bier says she doesn't like to be too comfortable when working. She believes that even though her films show tragedy, she always wants to end them with hope. She wants to make sure her audience feels connected to the story.

Personal Life

Susanne Bier has been married twice. Her first husband was Danish-Icelandic film director Tómas Gislason. They have a son named Gabriel Bier Gislason, who also works in film. Her second husband was Swedish actor Philip Zandén. They have a daughter, Alice Bier Zandén, who is an actress.

Currently, her partner is Danish singer and composer Jesper Winge Leisner. He has written music for several of her films.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music video

Awards and Nominations

Freud's Leaving Home (Freud flyttar hemifrån...) (1991)

• 1992 Angers European First Film Festival
  • Audience Award: Feature Film
  • C.I.C.A.E. Award
• 1992 Creteil International Women's Film Festival
  • Grand Prix
• 1992 Guldbagge Awards
  • Best Director (Nominated)
• 1991 Montréal World Film Festival
  • Montréal First Film Prize – Special Mention

Brev til Jonas (1992)

• 1993 Robert Festival
  • Best Short/Documentary (Årets kort/dokumentarfilm)

Family Matters (Det bli'r i familien) (1994)

• 1994 Rouen Nordic Film Festival
  • ACOR Award
  • Audience Award

Like It Never Was Before (Pensionat Oskar) (1995)

• 1995 Montréal World Film Festival
  • FIPRESCI Prize: Official Competition

The One and Only (Den eneste ene) (1999)

• 2000 Robert Festival
  • Best Film (Årets danske spillefilm)
• 2000 Bodil Awards
  • Best Film (Bedste danske film)

Open Hearts (Elsker dig for evigt) (2002)

• 2002 Toronto International Film Festival
  • International Critics' Award (FIPRESCI) – Special Mention
• 2003 Bodil Awards
  • Best Film (Bedste danske film)
• 2002 Lübeck Nordic Film Days
  • Baltic Film Prize for a Nordic Feature Film
• 2003 Robert Festival
  • Audience Award
• 2003 Rouen Nordic Film Festival
  • Press Award

Brothers (Brødre) (2004)

• 2005 Boston Independent Film Festival
  • Audience Award: Narrative
• 2005 Creteil International Women's Film Festival
  • Audience Award: Best Feature Film
• 2004 Hamburg Film Festival
  • Critics Award
• 2005 Skip City International D-Cinema Festival
  • Grand Prize
• 2005 Sundance Film Festival
  • Audience Award: World Cinema – Dramatic

After the Wedding (Efter brylluppet) (2006)

• 2007 Festroia International Film Festival
  • Jury Special Prize
• 2006 Film by the Sea International Film Festival
  • Audience Award
• 2006 Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival
  • Audience Award

In a Better World (Hævnen) (2010)

• 2011 Academy Awards
  • Best Foreign Language Film
• 2011 European Film Awards
  • Best Director
• 2011 Golden Globes, Italy
  • Best European Film (Miglior Film Europeo)
• 2010 Rome Film Festival
  • Audience Award
  • Grand Jury Prize

Love is All You Need (Den skaldede frisør) (2012)

• 2013 Robert Festival
  • Audience Award: Comedy

The Night Manager (2016)

• 2016 Primetime Emmy Awards
  • Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special

See also

In Spanish: Susanne Bier para niños