Inga Lindström: Das Geheimnis der Nordquists (2018)

Emilia Horn has asked the Nordquist family for permission to carry out excavations on their land because she suspects there is a Viking grave there. Professor Fram berates her for it because Carl Nordquist complained to her. Emilia suspects that the grave of a Viking warrior woman is there. After their conversation, she sees a strange man and her colleague Olle Hansen exchange an envelope. Alexander Nordquist wants to buy roses for his fiancée, Maja, and runs into Emilia, whose mother, Julia, owns the shop. Alexander and Maja plan to emigrate to Japan, but first he wants to visit his family at home again because he is having nightmares about his brother Liam, who disappeared 26 years ago. Unable to let the matter rest, Emilia drives to the Nordquist estate to try to change their minds. When she knocks, Viktor, Alexander’s brother, opens the door. The family has hired a new landscape gardener, so Viktor assumes Emilia is the new hire. She seizes the opportunity and says yes. He introduces her to his father, Carl, who tells her to speak with his brother-in-law, Leo Sandberg, who is in charge of the grounds. As Viktor shows Emilia around the estate, they meet Leo and Alexander. Alexander is a little surprised to see her again. Leo grows roses on an island belonging to the estate. Emilia would like to see them, but he makes it clear that no one but him is allowed on the island. Emilia runs into Alexander in the library, where he is looking for anything that might help him find Liam. Later, when Alexander checks on the horses in the stable, he sees his brother hand an envelope full of money to a strange man. Emilia looks for Leo and asks the cook, Birte, where he is. Birte has seen him go to the island because there is a problem with the roses. But she also has no answer when Emilia asks why only Leo is allowed on the island. Alexander asks Viktor about what he saw, wondering if he is gambling again and in debt. Viktor brushes him off and walks away. Alexander meets Emilia in the garden and asks if she will go riding with him. She agrees, hoping to find answers. Leo shows Carl the diseased roses he brought back from the island. He needs help, but Carl once again makes it clear that nobody else is allowed on the island. The ride yields no new insights for Emilia; Viktor’s only aim was to get closer to her, which she rejects. At last, Alexander finds something in the library: behind a bookcase, he discovers a notebook that probably belonged to Liam. While on the phone with Maja to tell her he will be staying longer, he sees Viktor return alone. He wants to know where Emilia is. When Viktor cannot answer, Alexander goes looking for her. He finds her on the beach, and she explains what happened. He apologizes for his brother. Carl has noticed that Alexander found the notebook, so he goes to Leo and tells him he must not say anything about what happened back then. Alexander shows Emilia the notebook. She explains what Liam drew and that it has to do with the Vikings. They go to Leo to ask him about it, but he brushes them off and sends Alexander to his father. Emilia sees Leo poring over the sick roses and offers to ask her mother, who knows about roses. She sends Julia some pictures and calls her. Since Julia has questions, Emilia hands the phone to Leo. He acts strangely after speaking with Julia, which Emilia also notices. Viktor has brought Olle from Stockholm because he suspects there are ancient treasures beneath a mound. Olle wants to know how he came to that conclusion. When Viktor mentions that Emilia told him it could be a Viking grave, Olle becomes suspicious. Viktor points Emilia out to him from a distance and explains who she really is. Alexander follows Viktor into town and discovers that Viktor is still gambling and in debt. Julia calls her daughter because she has a feeling that Leo’s voice reminds her of someone. Emilia tries to find answers about Liam’s disappearance at the local newspaper office. She discovers that several people left town shortly afterward, including the police officer who led the investigation. She goes to find Alexander to tell him what she has learned. He is just about to head out in his sailboat, and she joins him. Maja arrives at the estate and runs into Viktor; it turns out he owes her money too. Since she is looking for Alexander, Viktor tells her where he is. But she arrives too late and can only watch him sail away with Emilia. Alexander asks Emilia why she is so determined to help him. They grow closer and kiss. They drop anchor and sleep together below deck. When Alexander wakes up from another nightmare afterward, he tells her what he always sees. When she asks him to look more closely, he realizes they used to play on the Rose Island, and Liam must have disappeared there. As Viktor talks with Maja in her room, he sees the notebook and takes it. Julia has arrived at the estate because she wants to know whether Leo is really the man she suspects. She asks Emilia what is going on. While Alexander is arguing with Maja in her room, he realizes the notebook has disappeared. Julia confesses to her daughter that Leo was the great love of her life more than 30 years ago. But he wanted to travel and she did not, so they parted ways. Leo tells Emilia that he knows more than he has let on and that he sent her the clues. But he will not tell her everything. Viktor and Maja come up with a plan to get rid of Emilia. They tell Carl who Emilia really is, and he summarily dismisses her. Alexander is disappointed in her and walks away, leaving her there. Before Emilia leaves, Birte tells her that Carl’s wife only began growing roses on the island after Liam disappeared, and that he built her a greenhouse there especially for that purpose. Leo tells Carl that he is leaving the estate with Julia. On the way, Emilia stops and calls Alexander. When he does not answer, she leaves him a message saying she suspects the solution to the mystery is on the island. Viktor has summoned Olle, and they too are searching the island for the grave. They see Emilia enter the greenhouse and follow her. She finds a trapdoor in the floor with the initials L.N. and a date on it. After Maja has left, Alexander listens to the message and drives to the island. Viktor climbs down through the trapdoor into the tunnel, and Emilia cannot stop him. They hear a rumble from above; part of the roof structure has collapsed. Emilia and Alexander go down as well to help Viktor. They find him badly injured. In the next room, Emilia discovers two graves: the Viking grave and Liam’s beside it. Leo is glad that all the mystery has finally come to an end; he knew Emilia would uncover the secret. Carl finally explains to his son what really happened back then, and that he and Liam were in an accident together. When Viktor returns from the hospital, his father tells him that Alexander has paid off his debts. In Stockholm, Professor Fram tries to claim credit for the successful discovery and gives a speech, suddenly declaring that she always believed the grave existed. Alexander interrupts her and sets the record straight: it was not her, but Emilia and her father alone, who contributed to finding the grave. Emilia is also the only person allowed to carry out excavations there. Julia has helped Leo save the roses. Emilia and Alexander return to the estate together, and Alexander hopes the excavations will last their whole lives.