The Inheritance (2003)
"Arven" (original title)

A young man is torn between his individual hopes and his sense of duty when his father dies and he is expected to take over the family industry.

Director:

Per Fly

Writers:

Per Fly (screenplay), Kim Leona (screenplay),

Stars:

Ulrich Thomsen, Lisa Werlinder, Ghita Nørby

17 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ulrich Thomsen	...	Christoffer
Lisa Werlinder	...	Maria
Ghita Nørby	...	Annelise
Karina Skands	...	Benedikte
Lars Brygmann	...	Ulrik
Peter Steen	...	Niels
Diana Axelsen	...	Annika
Jesper Christensen	...	Holger Andersen
Ulf Pilgaard	...	Aksel
Dick Kaysø	...	Jens Mønsted
Sarah Juel Werner	...	Marie-Louise
Linda Myrberg	...	Ung skuespillerinde (Young actress)
Lucy Andoraison Hansen	...	Mira
Eric Viala	...	Frederic Rousseau
Valerie Quent	...	Frederic Rousseaus kone (Frederic Rousseau's wife)

Storyline

A young Danish man, Christoffer, lives a life of joy and happiness with his wife Maria in Stockholm. When his father dies his mother insists that Christoffer take over management of the family industry which is in danger of bankruptcy. He is torn between his chosen life and his sense of duty to his family and its past. When he chooses to step in as manager his family life and self-respect languish.

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Plot Keywords:

duty | trust | baby | bistro | rumor | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Spain]

Country:

Denmark Sweden Norway UK

Language:

Danish Swedish French Norwegian

Release Date:

9 July 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Inheritance

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zentropa Entertainments, Spillefilmkompaniet 4 1/2, Memfis Film & Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 107 min (Filmfest Hamburg)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The entire movie was shot with two-camera technique. According to the director this makes it easier to use actor improvisation. Most scenes are also shot with long focal lens. Apart from the visual effect actors did not know where the cameras were.

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Goofs

The scenes that are supposed to take place in the flat in Stockholm, must have been shot in Denmark, as the electrical switches on the wall are clearly of the typical danish brand "FUGA".

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Connections

Featured in Det store lærred: Arven (2003)

User Reviews

Family: Obligations, Commitments, Consequences

Writer/director Per Fly is a strong filmmaker from Denmark who is unafraid to make controversial statements that challenge certain 'family values' sentiments prevalent in this country. In this brilliantly written, directed and acted film he manages to reveal the inner destruction of a family under whose surface is an institution of envy. It is a riveting film that despite its in excess of two-hour length keeps us riveted to our seats in its never-ending exploration of the darker side of familial machinations.

Christoffer (Ulrich Thomsen) has escaped his Danish family and is comfortably ensconced in Stockholm as a successful restaurateur, living with the beautiful actress Maria (Lisa Werlinder) whose love for life extends beyond the fulfilling pleasures of the boudoir. Their bliss is interrupted by an unexpected visit from Chrisoffer's father who briefly spends time with the couple, happy for their state of success in all things. Upon his departure Christoffer receives a phone call that his father has hung himself and his presence is demanded in Denmark. Christoffer and Maria fly home to the matriarch of the family, Christoffer's mother Anneliese (the brilliant Ghita Norby) who immediately takes charge of the family, demands that Christoffer take over the failing family steel company thus skipping over Christoffer's designated brother-in-law Ulrick (Lars Brygmann), a fact that tears at Christoffer's sister Benedikte (Karina Skands). Taking the position of head of the family business would mean his giving up his dreams in Stockholm, negate Maria's burgeoning acting career, and placing Christoffer in the ominous position of having to fire longtime employees and make changes that would decimate many - not the least of which would be Christoffer's character. But Anneliese is strong and gets her way and thus the destruction of Christoffer's humanity and life begins.

Christoffer is able to merge the company with a French company and make the family business successful. But at what a cost? Maria leaves him after they have a child, Benedikte collides with him over his ruining her life with Ulrick, and Christoffer moves to France where he drowns his sorrows in alcohol. Per Fly is not one to tidy up all of the loose ends of a family disintegration: he leaves the end results of a bad decision up to the audience to figure out. It is this respect for the audience that endears this artist to us. The script is brilliantly written, the acting is superb, and the direction is tight and sensitive to the storyline. In every way this is a film worthy of our attention, not only as an art piece, but also as a means of re-examining 'family values' that here are presented in quite a different light than our usual reference phrase suggests. Highly recommended. Grady Harp