“Sentimental Value” stands out as one of the most beautiful and impactful films of the year. Not only does it meaningfully explore complex themes of death, abandonment and family, it also features stellar performances and beautiful cinematography. “Sentimental Value” is an unforgettable film that will remain at the forefront of cinema in the near future.
The film is primarily in Norwegian with English subtitles, but features some English-speaking parts. Set in Norway, it follows two sisters, Nora Borg (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes Borg Pettersen (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), as they reconcile with their absent father, Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård). Gustav, a film director, asks Nora, a stage actress, to play the lead role in his upcoming film. When she refuses, he asks Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), a famous American film actress, to take on the role instead. This movie-within-a-movie follows the life of Gustav’s deceased mother, who took her life after struggling mentally due to years of enduring Nazi persecution and torture. While he attempts to reach out emotionally to Nora through the creation of the film, she struggles with her own mental health and repeated panic attacks. After Agnes convinces Nora to at least read their father’s screenplay, Nora agrees to take on the role.
The film’s imagery, centered on the Borgs’ house and the generations who have lived and died there, stands out. Nora describes the house as living and breathing — a sentient object that responds to its surroundings. Their home and its changes represent familial identity and intergenerational trauma, at certain points exemplified by a crack in its foundation that continues to grow. The camera focuses on this crack during scenes of emotional instability, and it is repaired only after Nora and Gustav reconcile, when they remodel the house for the filming of their movie.
Through a blend of symbolic imagery and purposeful cinematography, a beautiful form of storytelling emerges. This fusion allows director Joachim Trier to seamlessly overlay the storylines of each character while switching between time periods, fading to black between each chapter. This distinct method of storytelling favors simplicity and clarity through its camerawork, focusing on one person or object at a time to emphasize each actor’s small, simple actions. These actions — a glance, a sigh — result in cohesiveness and emotional permanence. The balance between large, dramatic scenes and simpler moments provides a realistic representation of both everyday conflict and long-standing emotional trauma.
Every poignant scene, however, would have been less impactful if not for the outstanding performances of Reinsve, Skarsgård, Lilleaas and Fanning. Reinsve and Skarsgård portray the raw, fragile bond between an estranged father and his oldest daughter phenomenally. Though he was absent for much of Nora’s life, Gustav feels a much deeper connection to her than she believes. Skarsgård excellently portrays the archetype of a longing, distraught artist with intense vulnerability.
Reinsve’s performance stood out to me for its powerful believability and relatability. She embodies the spirit of a typical oldest sister, burdened with responsibility at too young an age, unable to reach out for support, whilst maintaining the image of a perfect girl who has it all together. Each supporting performance was equally stunning, with Lilleaas showcasing the deep inner turmoil of the conflicted younger sister and Fanning perfectly conveying Rachel’s frustration at her inability to embody the lead role.
The film beautifully navigates the idea of art as a healing process. It tactfully combines performance, cinematography and symbolism into a cohesive, impactful narrative about family bonds and trauma. It maintains a consistent pace, and the simple score complements the film’s nature. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire movie’s raw, realistic portrayal of relationships and beautiful storytelling. I expect the film to continue to impact and inspire both the film industry and moviegoers for years to come.
