Sentimental Value: A Heart-Wrenching Family Drama
In a poignant and thought-provoking film, Norwegian director Joachim Trier reunites with actress Renate Reinsve in Sentimental Value, a moving family drama that explores the complexities of relationships and the secrets that families keep. According to a review by Screen Daily, the film is "a sensitive sixth feature from Norway’s director Joachim Trier".
The movie follows Nora Borg (Reinsve), a successful Oslo actress, who is estranged from her father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgard), a once-prominent filmmaker. When Gustav offers Nora a role in his new film, she declines, and he instead casts an American starlet, Rachel (Elle Fanning). As the story unfolds, Trier masterfully weaves a nuanced look at a troubled family and a dysfunctional film industry.
As reported by Screen Daily, "Reinsve and Skarsgard bring incredible tenderness to the story". The film takes a poignant look at the Borg family, including Nora’s younger sister Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), and their complicated history. The family’s matriarch, Sissel, has recently passed away, and Gustav’s decision to move back into the family home, where he plans to shoot his film, sets off a chain of events that exposes the deep-seated secrets and resentments that have been festering for years.
The review by Screen Daily highlights the performances of the cast, particularly Reinsve and Skarsgard, who "bring incredible tenderness to the story". Reinsve’s portrayal of Nora is a masterclass in acting, conveying the character’s anxiety and melancholia with subtlety and depth. Skarsgard, meanwhile, brings a sense of poignancy to Gustav, a 70-year-old filmmaker who is desperate to leave a lasting legacy.
The film’s score, composed by Hania Rani, adds to the emotional impact of the story, bringing to life the sadness at the root of the family’s struggles. As noted by Screen Daily, "some of Sentimental Value’s revelations are easy to predict", but the film’s emotional resonance and the performances of the cast make it a compelling watch.
Sentimental Value is a film that will resonate with audiences long after the credits roll. With its thoughtful pacing and nuanced exploration of family dynamics, it is a must-see for fans of character-driven drama. As Screen Daily notes, the film "already has an August release date planned for France, through Memento, with Mubi picking up multiple territories ahead of the film’s Cannes debut".
Production Details
- Production companies: Mer Film, Eye Eye Pictures, MK Productions, Lumen, Zentropa, Komplizen Film, BBC Film
- International sales: MK2 Films, [email protected]
- Producers: Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar
- Screenplay: Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
- Cinematography: Kasper Tuxen
- Production design: Jorgen Stangebye Larsen
- Editing: Olivier Bugge Coutte
- Music: Hania Rani
- Main cast: Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning
