The fact that an ever-imitative Hollywood didn't rush-release a glut of Magnolia wannabes testifies to the difficulty of making portmanteau plotlines work. However, by avoiding direct character interaction and opting for a thematic link between his stories, Swedish director Björn Runge has produced a sombre and unsettling tract on our indefatigable ability to pluck redemption from the jaws of perdition.
The episode involving adulterous surgeon Jakob Eklund and his desire for revenge on a successful colleague plays out as sophisticated soap opera, while lonely drug-dealer Ann Petren's loathing of her ex-husband and his trophy wife has a tabloid intensity. But much more intriguing is workaholic bricklayer Magnus Klepper's encounter with Ingvar Hirdwall and Marika Lindstrom, whose makeover plans are inspired by a deeply sinister secret.