Position-in-frame: gendered mobility, legacy and transformative sacrifice in the screen stories of Susanne Bier.

Abstract

An integral connection point between the screenplay and reader/viewer is the protagonist’s transformative journey.  The construction of this narrative backbone is critical to the articulation of overarching thematic concerns and story premise but also reflects the story creator’s worldview- one often coloured by representations of gender.  The Hollywood model certainly divides narrative function along gender lines but does this representation hold true within a different cultural context?  This article examines the selected screen stories of Danish director Susanne Bier whose partnership with screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen is one of Denmark’s most successful film partnerships.  Employing a case study methodology I examine the dramatic function of and agency afforded screen characters and the critical dynamic between cultural landscape, practitioner preference and narrative inquiry.  Key to this address is an exploration of mobility, legacy and sacrifice as textual considerations of gender and its utilisation as transnational narrative strategy.