Arven (The Inheritance) (2003)

75% of critics liked it
(36 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(1,506 ratings)

A man is torn between love, family, and a responsibility he does not want in this drama. Christoffer (Ulrich Thomsen) used to work for his family's steel company, but when the stress of the job began taking a serious toll on his health, he left the firm and now happily runs a restaurant in Stockholm… More A man is torn between love, family, and a responsibility he does not want in this drama. Christoffer (Ulrich Thomsen) used to work for his family's steel company, but when the stress of the job began taking a serious toll on his health, he left the firm and now happily runs a restaurant in Stockholm and is married to Maria (Lisa Werlinder), a lovely and promising stage actress. At the urging of his father, Christoffer flies to Denmark for a family visit, only to discover upon arrival that his dad has just killed himself. Christoffer quickly discovers why: the steel business is on the verge of collapse and his mother (Ghita Nørby) urges him to take over rather than let his brother-in-law Ulrik (Lars Brygmann) assume control. Christoffer reluctantly agrees, but before long, his decision begins to drive a wedge between himself and Maria, while his difficulty in reviving the failing business forces him to deal honestly with his employees in a manner he's not accustomed to, as well as dealing with the uncomfortable points of corporate power. Arven (aka The Inheritance) is the second part of a trilogy by director Per Fly on the three primary social classes, following his 2000 debut Bænken. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Per Fly
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jul 9, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Jun 7, 2005
Studio: Egmont

Critic Reviews

Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
There's a major difference between Inheritance and The Godfather -- and that's a lack of epic and thematic sweep.
Michael Booth, Denver Post
What makes The Inheritance so watchable, and so different from recent couples dramas like Closer, is that these privileged people are decent, likable and struggling to do the right thing.
Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In his role, Thomsen is strong and convincing.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Highly dramatic and intensely emotional, blessed with strong themes and an unstoppable narrative drive, it is adult, intelligent entertainment of a kind we rarely see these days.
Leighton Klein, Boston Globe
While the entire movie is one massive flashback, the real reasons for all this Danish dysfunction go unexplored.
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News
It's a poignant, even heart-rending reflection on how doing the right thing isn't as simple as we were once taught.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...there's absolutely no denying the effectiveness of Thomsen's heartbreaking performance...
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
like updating Bergman for this millennium
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
A very solid and appealing movie.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Telling and insightful, inventively filmed and extremely well-acted as usual ... but why are Danish films so relentlessly bleak?
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
So much of this Danish-Swedish import is so uninteresting that it quickly becomes a chore to sit through. And that's too bad, because the film has a lot to say about professional- vs.-personal life struggles.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Thomsen brings an icy tension to the role, while Norby, as Christoffer's domineering mom, adds a chilling element of Greek tragedy to the story.
Tony Medley, tonymedley.com
a compelling study of the classic struggle men often have to make in choosing between wife and mother, duty and family, right and wrong.
Marc Mohan, Oregonian
The politics of the story come to life through the vivid characterizations of a uniformly excellent cast.
, E! Online
Fly's point is that private morality has public consequences. And this film's major achievement is making us understand just that.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
A solid, involving Danish drama that proves discord, struggle and variance need not necessarily be lost in translation.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "The Inheritance", Christoffer(Ulrich Thomsen), a restauranteur, and Maria(Lisa Werlinder), an up-and-coming Shakespearean actress, are madly in love with each other while living the ideal life in Stockholm. Shortly after an impromptu visit from… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "The Inheritance", Christoffer(Ulrich Thomsen), a restauranteur, and Maria(Lisa Werlinder), an up-and-coming Shakespearean actress, are madly in love with each other while living the ideal life in Stockholm. Shortly after an impromptu visit from Christoffer's father, they learn that he has committed suicide. Upon their return to Copenhagen for the funeral, Christoffer's mother(Ghita Norby) asks him to become CEO of the family's struggling steel works, displacing his brother-in-law, Ulrik(Lars Brygmann), who has fifteen years of experience working there. Maria is none too thrilled at the idea of Christoffer's stewardship.(He had worked there previously but thoroughly hated the experience.) But he convinces her to stay and promises that it will only be for two years...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Inheritance" is pretty much just a predictable corporate soap opera but there is enough compelling drama at its heart to make it worthwhile. The movie also does a very good at exploring the notion of familial responsibility and wonders at its limits on an individual. [/font]

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Arven (The Inheritance) (2003)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

Cast

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