Following the worldwide success of The Worst Person in the World, writer/director Joachim Trier returns with Sentimental Value, a sophisticated and intensely human film that confirms his status as one of the best contemporary filmmakers working today. This deeply felt Drama tackles the intricate, often agonizing dynamics of an estranged family, proving that the deepest emotional wounds are often inflicted and sustained by the people we love the most.
The film centers on sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes, who are reunited with their charismatic, once-renowned director father, Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård). The catalyst for their complex interaction is Gustav’s proposed comeback film, for which he initially offers stage actress Nora the lead role. When Nora declines, Gustav swiftly—and perhaps spitefully—recasts the part with an eager young Hollywood star, Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning). What follows is a sensitive, challenging, and often melancholy exploration of the gulf between a father and his daughters. My thesis is that Sentimental Value is a triumph of emotional honesty, using the facade of a film set to expose the raw, unexpressed craving for deep family love that neither side can articulate.
Story and Screenplay
The screenplay, co-written by Trier and his long-time collaborator Eskil Vogt, is a masterclass in subtlety and emotional precision. The narrative structure is deliberately slow and observational, refusing the easy catharsis of melodrama. Instead, the film focuses on the spaces between the dialogue—the things that "hang in the air" between the characters.
The primary conflict is the painful, complex relationship between Nora and Gustav. The betrayal over the casting decision serves merely as the professional trigger for a deeply personal, life-long difficulty in connection. The script is not interested in providing quick, comforting resolutions. As the narrative unfolds, it highlights how emotional patterns established years ago do not resolve quickly or easily, keeping the film grounded in a painful, relatable reality. The intrusion of the American star, Rachel Kemp, adds a fascinating layer of external chaos to the internal family drama, forcing the Borg family to examine their deeply held resentments and unspoken desires against a backdrop of manufactured artistic collaboration.
Acting and Characters
Trier is amply helped by a cast that is, quite simply, note-perfect, bringing extraordinary subtleties to their roles. The film truly centers on the dynamic between father and daughter, and the performances by Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård are magnetic. Reinsve, as Nora, is a portrait of contained yearning and frustrated resentment. She perfectly embodies the emotional similarity she shares with her father—a desire to flee coupled with a deep, unexpressed craving for his love.
Skarsgård’s Gustav is suitably charismatic and charming, yet his performance is laced with the emotional avoidance of an aging artist who is more comfortable directing grand human dramas than confronting his own. Their combined screen presence creates a tension that is palpable and deeply moving. Elle Fanning’s presence as Rachel Kemp is a calculated, brilliant move. She embodies the "eager young Hollywood star" with a mix of earnestness and slight obliviousness, acting as an unintentional wedge that forces Nora and Gustav to confront their issues. The entire ensemble works with a devastating emotional honesty.
Direction and Technical Aspect
Joachim Trier’s direction is marked by a profound sense of emotional integrity. He employs a style that is melancholy, but never manipulative or tragic. Technically, Trier "stands back," allowing his camera to observe and trust his actors to communicate the nuances of the fractured family relationship.
The aesthetic is understated, reflecting the quiet, cold beauty of Oslo. The technical choices reinforce the film’s central theme: that the truth of human connection is often found not in grand pronouncements, but in small, shared moments of discomfort or silence. The lighting and production design emphasize the contrast between the warmth that the family craves and the emotional chill that currently defines their relationships. Trier’s craft is evident in his ability to keep the film emotionally grounded while exploring complex psychological terrain.
Soundtrack and Atmosphere
The atmosphere of Sentimental Value is sophisticated, pensive, and deeply reflective. It is defined by a sense of longing—a craving for a connection that remains perpetually just out of reach.
The score is likely minimal, allowing the dialogue and, more importantly, the silence, to dictate the mood. The soundscape is used to highlight the intimacy and discomfort of being in close proximity to those we love but cannot communicate with effectively. This consistent emotional register is what makes the film so powerful; it recognizes that in real life, emotional patterns are difficult to break, and it refuses to offer the easy, quick fix of Hollywood cinema. The film's atmosphere is an honest, melancholic reflection of a complex emotional reality.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Emotional Honesty: The film possesses a rare integrity, refusing melodrama in favor of complex, real-life emotional patterns.
- Joachim Trier's Direction: Masterful, restrained filmmaking that makes the film feel sophisticated and profound.
- Stellar Cast: Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård are note-perfect, communicating deep, unexpressed emotional complexity.
- Subtle Dialogue: The script, by Trier and Vogt, is brilliant in its use of subtext and silence.
- Emotional Intensity: The raw focus on difficult family dynamics may be emotionally demanding for some viewers.
- Lack of Conventional Plot: Viewers expecting a traditional narrative structure may find the pacing slow or the resolution too ambiguous.
Final Verdict
Sentimental Value is a sophisticated, wonderful film and further proof that Joachim Trier is one of the most essential filmmakers working today. It’s a challenging, rewarding watch that illuminates the universal struggle to express the deepest forms of love within a family unit.
The film is a triumph of understated Drama, relying on sublime performances and honest, nuanced writing. It’s highly recommended for anyone who appreciates complex, human cinema that remains grounded in the difficult truths of real life. Read the full analysis of this powerful film in this Movie Review. This is mandatory viewing among the 2025 Films.
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
 Movie Review: A Masterful, Melancholy Study of Estranged Love){kind=link}
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