European Genre Forum
Inheritance
Katia and Anton are thrilled to move into the apartment they have inherited, but their happiness is threatened by the creature lurking behind the crack in the walls.
Katia and Anton are a young couple. Madly in love, they are building plans for the future, having recently moved into their own flat, which they inherited from Anton’s grandfather. Gradually, Katia begins to doubt her feelings and the relationship begins to deteriorate. One day, while stripping old wallpaper. They notice a small crack in the wall. The more their relationship breaks down, the bigger this crack becomes, and eventually, it becomes a gaping hole. The strangest thing is that there seems to be nothing at all behind the hole in the wall—only dark emptiness, from which a grinding sound can be heard from time to time. When an evil creature emerges from the hole and takes Anton away, Katia engages in a bloody battle to rescue him and break her morbid connection with the past and abandon the plans that have been forced on her.
Keywords: interpersonal relationships, urbanism, intergenerational conflict
Director's note:
In 2021, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I began scripting Inheritance, exploring a crisis in relationships, drawing from personal experience. Why do feelings fade in relationships? And why stay in unhappy ones? When do we start feeling disgusted with our partner in a relationship? How much do society and our past shape our relationships? Now live in a country at war; a monster that was lurking has now shown its true face. Behind the relationship crisis lies a larger story: our post-Soviet legacy, shaped by past generations, demanding reevaluation. The underlying theme of Inheritance is about this; how we, generation after generation, struggle with the same monster. This metaphor inspired and further developed my story into a creepy tale about a couple who face two challenges at once: a relationship crisis and a monster behind the wall. It is like a dream. Like a bad dream that scares you, but from which you don't want to wake up.
About: Contemporary Ukrainian Cinema was founded in 2015 to promote young Ukrainian filmmakers. To date CUC produced 16 shorts, 3 documentaries, and 4 features. CUC's films have been screened at various festivals, including Rotterdam, San Sebastián, Sheffield Doc, Clermont-Ferrand, Warsaw, Palm Springs etc. Filmography: [La Palisiada (2023)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13537200/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk) [Re-record (2022)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23341958/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk) [Blindfold (2020)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10244550/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk) [Technical break (2017)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6950774/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk) [Son (2016)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5738844/?ref_=nm_knf_c_2)
About: Established in 2000, Fantastic Films leads in European genre content production. Producers Brendan McCarthy, John McDonnell, and Deirdre Levins prioritize unique stories and creative talent. Notable works include YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER, VIVARIUM, SIX SHOOTER, THE LAST DAYS ON MARS, and WAKE WOOD. Filmography: Woken (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21068514/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk You Are Not My Mother (2021) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10406596/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk Arracht (2020) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9620986/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk Sea Fever (2019) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2716382/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk Vivarium (2019) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8368406/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk