Bier's

Which brings us to Danish director Susanne Bier's schematic "In a Better World," which might have been made with an Oscar in its crosshairs and whose basic message is that civilization is good, and civilization has a cost.

'Insidious': Scary Eyeful of the Unknown John Anderson 2011

It doesn't help Ms. Bier's message that most of the adults in the Danish side of the film are clueless about bullying and boys, or, seemingly, human nature; it doesn't help either that Ms. Bier makes such obvious use of a metaphor as elephantine as an African civil war to make her points about humanity.

'Insidious': Scary Eyeful of the Unknown John Anderson 2011

But if changing hearts and minds was a major mission in Taylor's life, it was also the theme in Bier's poignant film.

Penelope Andrew: HuffPost Review: Oscar-Winner In a Better World, and Remembering Elizabeth Taylor Penelope Andrew 2011

In February, director Susanne Bier's drama, "In a Better World," won the Oscar for best foreign film, and this month Lars von Trier's latest, "Melancholia," will premier at Cannes.

Serious and Silly Filmmaking in Denmark J. S. Marcus 2011

Despite the dramatic conflict, there is something flat and schematic about Bier's story -- and predictable as well, in a finale that shows Christian and Elias exacting their revenge on the man who humiliated Anton.

Marshall Fine: HuffPost Review: In a Better World Marshall Fine 2011

The latter stars in Kelly Reichardt's frontier saga, Meek's Cutoff, which leads the new features along with Susanne Bier's In A Better World this year's best foreign film Oscar winner, and fresh American indie Tiny Furniture.

This week's new film events 2011

Winner of this year's Oscar as best foreign-language film, Susanne Bier's In a Better World is an intriguing examination of the ideas of revenge and forgiveness, seen through the prism of both parents and children.

Marshall Fine: HuffPost Review: In a Better World Marshall Fine 2011

Since then, Mr. Mikkelsen has proved his versatility in a number of intense roles ranging from an adulterous doctor in Susanne Bier's 2002 Dogme film "Open Hearts," to a morally conflicted charity worker in Ms. Bier's Oscar-nominated 2006 film "After the Wedding."

Mikkelsen Revels in Latest Scars Elizabeth Fitzherbert 2010

Since then, Mr. Mikkelsen has proved his versatility in a number of intense roles ranging from an adulterous doctor in Susanne Bier's 2002 Dogme film "Open Hearts," to a morally conflicted charity worker in Ms. Bier's Oscar-nominated 2006 film "After the Wedding."

Mikkelsen Revels in Latest Scars Elizabeth Fitzherbert 2010

Since then, Mr. Mikkelsen has proved his versatility in a number of intense roles ranging from an adulterous doctor in Susanne Bier's 2002 Dogme film "Open Hearts," to a morally conflicted charity worker in Ms. Bier's Oscar-nominated 2006 film "After the Wedding."

Mikkelsen Revels in Latest Scars Elizabeth Fitzherbert 2010