The perfect couple: A dance of mystery and joy
A surprising start to a murder mystery
In a bold move that almost led to a cast mutiny, director Susanne Bier insisted on a flashmob-style dance sequence for the opening credits of “The Perfect Couple.” This Netflix murder mystery, adapted from Elin Hildebrand’s novel, delves into the dark secrets of the affluent Winbury family after a body is discovered during a wedding. Despite its somber themes, the show kicks off with an unexpected dance routine featuring the entire cast, including Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning, and Liev Schreiber, grooving on the beach to Meghan Trainor’s “Criminals” in formal attire.
A director’s vision
Bier explained her unconventional choice, stating, “I wanted to tell the audience, ‘This is going to be fun.’ Given the current gloomy times, I felt the need to inject some life and joy into the show. I wanted to see all the characters having fun.” This vision, however, was met with skepticism from both the cast and producers.
Cast resistance and choreography challenges
The cast’s initial reaction was far from enthusiastic. Meghann Fahy, who portrays social media influencer Merritt, revealed that the actors even started a WhatsApp group to voice their concerns. “Everyone was on that group saying they didn’t want to do this because we just didn’t understand,” Fahy shared. She also admitted to struggling with choreography, adding to her apprehension.
Ishaan Khattar, playing best man Scooter, echoed these sentiments. Despite being a trained dancer, he found the sequence out of place. “We’re like, ‘Wait, where does this fit into the scheme of things? This was not part of the assignment!’” he remarked.
Time constraints and production concerns
The producers were equally worried about the feasibility of shooting the sequence within the tight schedule. Choreographed by Charm La’Donna, the dance had to be filmed in just one and a half hours due to time constraints. Bier, however, was adamant about including the scene, even if it meant pushing the limits of the production schedule.
Convincing the cast
Nicole Kidman, who plays Winbury matriarch Greer, needed some convincing. “I didn’t feel like Greer would dance! I felt like Greer would watch,” she admitted, though she eventually embraced the idea. “But I danced as Greer. I think it’s great and I’m so glad they got us all to do it. There’s some joy in it.”
Liev Schreiber, portraying Greer’s husband Tag Winbury, was the only cast member immediately on board. “I wasn’t in that [WhatsApp] chain,” he said. “The entire cast had a mutiny about this idea except for me. I was already in my trailer practicing the dance moves. I just like dancing and was kinda disappointed when it came out that I’m not in it more because I thought I did it really well.”
A choreographer’s perspective
Charm La’Donna, who also choreographs for Meghan Trainor, praised the actors for their quick learning. “They’re fast learners,” she said. “We all had fun; it was a fun day on the beach.” La’Donna incorporated classical dance steps inspired by movies like “Saturday Night Fever” and infused elements of the show’s themes into the routine. One notable move involved the cast pointing with alternate hands, symbolizing the murder mystery at the heart of the series. “When you see them pointing around, you don’t know who is who and what’s what,” La’Donna explained.
A joyful outcome
Despite the initial resistance, the cast eventually embraced the dance sequence. “The God’s honest truth is that at the end of the day we were very, very joyful about it,” Fahy admitted. “We all sort of ended up giving in to it. It was so fun and I actually weirdly think it’s amazing.”
For those intrigued by this unique blend of mystery and dance, check out the trailer for The Perfect Couple to get a glimpse of the show’s captivating opening sequence.
This article aims to provide a deeper understanding of the creative decisions behind “The Perfect Couple” and the challenges faced by the cast and crew. By exploring the director’s vision, the cast’s initial resistance, and the eventual joyful outcome, we gain insight into the complexities of bringing such a unique project to life.