Inheritance in Pretoria: A Dusty Bit of Blackmail

Is it worth the time?

If you have a soft spot for moody, pre-war dramas that rely on sharp glares rather than loud bangs, then Inheritance in Pretoria will probably scratch an itch for you. It’s a slow burner, though. If you prefer your pacing to move faster than a glacier, you’re going to hate every second of this. It’s not exactly light Sunday afternoon viewing.

The whole thing hangs on the tension between Agnes and this creep, Schliebach. Watching him lurk around is honestly the most engaging part of the movie. He has this way of smiling that makes you want to reach through the screen and smack him. Seriously, what a guy.

There’s a specific scene where he confronts Agnes, and the lighting is just… aggressive. It’s all shadow and sharp angles. You can practically smell the stale cigarettes and bad intentions in the room. It feels a lot heavier than something like A Woman of No Importance, which plays its cards way closer to the chest.

Notes from the couch:

• Bernhard’s blindness is played with a lot of heavy-handed gravity. Sometimes it works, other times it’s just a bit much.
• The travel sequence at the start feels like it belongs in a totally different movie. It’s strangely bright compared to the rest of the sludge.
• I kept waiting for a big explosive payoff, but the movie is way more interested in quiet, poisonous conversations.
• The dialogue is dense. You really have to keep your ears open or you’ll miss why someone is suddenly crying in the corner.

It’s funny, the movie tries so hard to make the Pretoria setting feel like a fresh start, but it’s just a stage for the same old Hamburg problems. It’s almost depressing how little the geography changes the human condition here. If you liked the tone in The World for Sale, you’ll recognize that same desperate energy.

One shot of a doorway lingers for about five seconds too long, and for a second, I thought the projector had just stopped working. It’s an odd choice. Maybe it’s meant to be artistic? Or maybe they just forgot to cut the film. 🤷‍♂️

In the end, it’s a bit of an uneven watch. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got enough grit to keep you watching. Just don’t expect to walk away feeling cheerful about the state of marriage or business ethics.