Director Susanne Bier, who comes from Denmark, is known for her exceptional films and TV shows. She consistently delivers exciting projects.
She won an Academy Award for the 2010 Danish film In a Better World and has worked on thrillers like The Night Manager in 2016 and the hit film Bird Box in 2018.
Due to her impressive work on these projects, she became the first female director to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and a European Film Award. Bier has also worked with many talented actors, including the cast of the 2022 Showtime series The First Lady.
Bier’s newest project is the Netflix series The Perfect Couple, which was released on September 5. The series features Nicole Kidman, and this is not the first time Bier has worked with her.
The director previously collaborated with Kidman on the 2020 HBO psychological drama The Undoing. This project earned Bier a Director’s Guild nomination and added to her impressive resume. If you’ve just finished The Perfect Couple, The Undoing should be your next binge.
‘The Undoing’ Is a Gripping Suspenseful Drama
The six-episode drama centers on Grace Fraser (Kidman), whose seemingly perfect life falls apart when her husband, Jonathan (played by Hugh Grant), is suspected of murder.
Grace appears to have it all: a successful career as a psychologist, a husband who is an oncologist, a luxurious New York City apartment, and a son attending an elite school. Despite their apparent wealth, they seem out-of-touch and superficial.
In the first episode, Grace encounters a mysterious woman named Elena (Matilda De Angelis) several times. The next day, Elena is found murdered in her studio, and her young son, who goes to the same school as Grace’s son, discovers the body.
Jonathan is considered a suspect because of his affair with Elena, and Grace’s life quickly begins to fall apart. She starts taking long walks at night and has visions of Elena and what happened to her.
As the story progresses, more details about Elena’s murder come to light. Is it possible that Jonathan, who has devoted his life to helping people, could be the killer? Grace is also acting strangely, but is it due to knowing something about the murder or her life falling apart?
Kidman portrays Grace as a woman trying hard to stay calm on the outside while experiencing intense panic inside. The most intense scenes occur during Jonathan’s trial.
His lawyer, Haley Fitzgerald (Noma Dumezweni), delivers standout performances, and the tension builds with each episode as the mystery deepens. The truth about Elena’s death is not revealed until the final episode.
Susanne Bier Crafts a Riveting Drama With ‘The Undoing’
The entire cast is excellent, including the late Donald Sutherland as Grace’s father. Although Kidman is outstanding, Grant’s role shines brightly. His character is both charming and deceitful, making it hard to determine if he’s truthful.
Grace and Jonathan’s son, Henry (Noah Jupe), also adds intrigue with his own secrets. Bier’s direction gives the series lasting appeal. The show is a gripping psychological study with attractive visuals, especially during Grace’s night walks.
The cinematography enhances the story, creating a mysterious and magnetic city setting that is both magical and dark. The locations and mood are crucial to the scenes, whether Grace is at a formal party or escaping to her brownstone. Even at their beach house, an unsettling feeling persists, making it clear that danger is always near.
Bier skillfully portrays intense emotions throughout the series. Despite the characters trying to maintain composure, the scenes are filled with anger, sadness, and betrayal. While the characters may not be relatable, their emotions are.
Bier balances these emotions with the story’s action. She aimed to create a thrilling experience while developing the characters. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bier said, “I felt that making it more of a thriller would allow for the character stories but would give the characters a very clear direction.” Her approach resulted in a perfect blend of compelling characters and an engaging mystery.
When The Undoing aired in 2020, it quickly gained attention for its quality. Discussions about Kidman’s stunning wardrobe and the show’s twists spread on social media. It was compared to David E. Kelley’s Big Little Lies, another HBO series starring Kidman.
However, The Undoing became the first HBO show to gain viewers every week throughout its season and was the network’s most-watched show of the year. It also established Bier as the director for portraying wealthy individuals facing the consequences of their secrets, similar to her future project The Perfect Couple.
Although there’s no news on Bier’s next project (she will only be an executive producer for The Night Manager’s second season), The Undoing showcases her talents in a thrilling psychological drama.
Director Susanne Bier, renowned for her impactful films and TV shows, has delivered another gripping drama with The Undoing. This six-episode HBO series, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, revolves around Grace Fraser, whose perfect life unravels when her husband is accused of murder.
Grace’s encounters with a mysterious woman and her subsequent murder set off a tense investigation, leading to revelations that question everyone’s innocence. Kidman portrays Grace as a woman struggling to maintain calm amid her personal chaos.
The show is noted for its intense emotional depth, attractive cinematography, and complex characters. Bier’s direction masterfully blends psychological tension with rich storytelling, making The Undoing a standout series.
The show received acclaim for its suspenseful plot and strong performances, and it remains a highlight of Bier’s career, reinforcing her reputation as a leading director in dramatic storytelling.
All episodes of The Undoing are available to stream on Max in the U.S.
