Arven

The second part of Per Fly's trilogy is almost on a par with its predecessor "Bænken", but Arven never becomes quite as gripping. Perhaps that is because the conflicts belong to the category of first-world problems. The drama is undeniably rather more heart-rending in "Bænken", where the protagonist, played by Jesper Christensen, has truly hit rock bottom.

While "Bænken" depicts the bottom of society, Arven is set among Denmark's small upper class. Christian Borch Møller has actually created a happy life for himself in Stockholm as a highly regarded restaurateur, with the beautiful and talented actress Maria at his side. He has put hundreds of kilometres between himself and his family, but that counts for nothing when his father takes his own life.

The Borch Møller family owns a steel rolling mill with hundreds of employees. Christian naturally feels a certain obligation to take over the management of the company in order to save the sinking ship. According to his domineering and forceful mother Annelise, no one but he can do it, not even her son-in-law Ulrik. Like some royal heir, Christian feels compelled to take over the throne. This has major consequences for his marriage, for Maria understandably finds it hard to see the fairness in their having to say goodbye to their good life in Stockholm and in her having to give up her career.

It is somewhat problematic that it is so hard to empathise with the protagonist, because for most of the film he is emotionally buttoned-up. It is far easier to identify with Maria, who registers the gradual change in Christian. In the end she leaves him, whereupon he finds a new woman who accepts the rules of the game. He has paid the highest price, however: his humanity.