The conflict between duty and desire lies at the heart of this sombre Scandinavian drama, the second in a planned trilogy of films directed by Per Fly and all set within different social strata. The Inheritance's setting is the upper-class society of 'old money', and its protagonist restauranteur Christoffer (Ulrich Thomsen), who lives in Sweden with his actress wife Maria (Lisa Werlinder). Returning to Copenhagen following his industrialist father's suicide, Christoffer is asked by his domineering mother to take over his family's ailing steelworks business.

Having established Christoffer's carefree existence with Maria in Stockholm, Inheritance explores how the responsibilities of running a corporate firm weigh down upon the son's personal relationships and affect the very nature of his personality. From the outset he's plunged into a crisis-situation: he has to cut 100 workers (including friends from childhood) within a month to stave off bankruptcy. He fires his brother-in-law Ulrik for spreading rumours to financiers, causing his sister Benedikte (Karina Sands) to excommunicate herself from the family.

"AN OCCASIONALLY FRUSTRATING WATCH"

The Lady Macbeth figure of his mother Annelise (Ghita Nørby) has no time for his doubts and uncertainties about the human impact of his business decisions: "Don't talk about your emotions!" she barks and later it's she who will rescue him from his lowest ebb, with the reassurance that &quotyou're just like me...born to take responsibility". Arguments between Christoffer and Maria escalate, exacerbated by the amount of time he spends on work. She accuses him of ruthlessness and of blind loyalty to Annelise. The tragedy is that he's aware of becoming increasingly heartless, yet can seemingly do nothing to change his life.

It's this dramatic inevitability, which makes the solidly acted Inheritance an occasionally frustrating watch. Shot in almost monochrome tones, and with a sparing use of music, it loses its footing in a bizarre rape sequence at a French villa. And who could not be drawn to the free-spirited Maria's vibrancy and generosity and not be disconcerted by the austere coldness of Christoffer's clan?

In Danish with English subtitles.

Inheritance is released in UK cinemas on 31st December 2004.