Sentimental Value values family

Sentimental Value 🎬 (2025) Where art, family, and unfinished emotions quietly collide.

Sentimental Value offers an absorbing look at the often uneasy mix of family versus personal needs. Writing his screenplay with Eskil Vogt, director Joachim Trier examines how the artistic needs of a cinematic master affect his other important role as father to two grown

daughters. Playing a famed director named Gustov whose best films seem behind him, Stellan Skarsgård does his naturalistic best, every nuance of his movements and voice coming from places many people experience. Granted, film industry work puts him in heightened circles, but like some fathers, his understanding of people in general does not apply to his own kids. He uses one girl in his earlier masterpiece, a flashback created beautifully by Trier in a long, black-and-white shot that builds surprising emotional impact without providing any background story. Impressive directing—from both Trier and Gustov—make it logical to turn Skarsgård into the main character. Instead, the story comes from the perspective of Renate Reinsve as Nora, not the little girl from film clip, but the daughter who chose stage acting as a career. The chance to wallow in melodrama comes when dad makes a peace offering by asking Nora to take starring role in his new film; she rejects it, next discovering a world-famous star happily stepping in. What could turn into messy treacle shifts in unexpected ways, avoiding cliches and providing strong acting opportunities for Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas in supporting roles. Richly drawn characters and cleverly placed visuals makes Sentimental Value an emotional treat.