SENTIMENTAL VALUE/ Affeksjonsverdi

Norway, 2025, 135 minutes, Colour.

Renata Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgaard, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning, Jesper Christensen, Lena Endre, Lars Varinger.

Directed by Joachim Trier.

After watching Sentimental Value , we realise that the English title does not do justice to the drama which has moved and challenged us. One can note that there is the tone of affection in the Norwegian title. A more telling nuance.

Norwegian director, Joachim Trier, has made films in Norway and in the United States. Earlier he had made the film, The Worst Person in the World, with actress Renata Reinsve, to much acclaim. He works with her again in this film, teaming her with Swedish and international star, Stellan Skarsgaard. This makes for a very strong and tangled relationship between daughter and father.

The film opens, strikingly, with the daughter, Nora, full of nerves, having a tantrum before going on stage. But, once there, a superb performance and acclaim. She is a woman of uncertainties as well as talent, craving relationships, alienated from her father, depending on her sister, based on their bonding during their childhood, their parents’ divorce and, later, their mother’s death and the absence of their father.

The film works very well on these themes of family and relationships, even going back to the 1930s, the Nazi invasion, the war, Gustav’s mother in prison as a resistance fighter during the occupation, impact on her later life. Then, Gustav and his wife, the clashes with his daughters, and the focus on the house in which they lived, a house with the girls identify with and are continually return to, but the scene of tragedy.

Gustav has not made a film for a long time, is ageing, not always well. He has a screenplay and encounters a talented American actress, Rachel, played by Elle Fanning. Gustav invites her to play the leading role in his film, rehearsing lines, explaining some tragic sequences, the suicide, but Rachel turns out to be an actress of integrity, questioning whether the film should be made in English, wondering about her capability for playing the part, making the decision of principle.

This is quite a long film, divided into chapters with each section cut into black, pause, then the next chapter. With the range of characters, so well performed and delineated, the audience becomes more and more involved in this family story. Renata Reinsve commands the screen even in the moments where she underestimates herself. Her sister, Agnes, is impressively played by Inga Ibsdottor Lisseaal. We are drawn into the emotional tangles, not always approving at all of some of the characters’ behaviour, but always hope that there can be honest reflection, honest expression, reconciliation.

Sentimental Value won the Grand Prix at the Festival of Cannes, 2025, and received many nominations for Best Picture in the international 2025 awards.

1. The title, sentiment, the notion of perfection in the Norwegian title? And? Tone?
2. The Norwegian settings, quality perspectives, Nordic filmmaking? Family stories? Back to the wall, post-war, secret in the past?
3. The initial focus on the house, symbolising the sisters, the return to the house, is history, furnishings and look, ownership of the house, the daughters, the father? The action taking place within the house?
4. The focus on Nora, her performance, the tantrums before going on, nerves, staff, pressure, threats, wanting the slap from the actor? The set, the audience, darkness and pores, her entry, the performance, the claim? Revelations about Nora’s character?
5. Agnes, the bond with Nora, her marriage, her husband, love for her son? Nora enjoying the boys company? The home sequences?
6. Gustav, his story, the film director, a claim, the screening of the classic film, the audience response, the interview? And this starring in the film? Her not wanting to be in films? During research for her father?
7. Plan to make a new film, the screenplay, giving to Agnes, her reluctance? Her reading it, change of heart? Giving it to Nora, Nora reading it and her reaction? Memories of their mother? Going back to Gustav and his history, his mother and the resistance, imprisonment during the war, coming out, giving birth to staff? Pessimism? Suicide?
8. Rachel, American actress, watching the screening, the conversations with staff, on the beach, his offering her the part, their discussions, reading the script, testing out the lines, with Ingrid, the emotion? The story of the suicide, the knocking over of the store (actually from IKEA)? The overall impact on Rachel, meeting the family, the conversations? The issue of the film in English or not? Her coming to the conclusion that she should withdraw, the conversation with Gustave, her integrity in appreciating the situation and her role?
9. Nora, her continued acting, performances, the relationship with the actor, his being married, the break and his leaving? The background of her suicide attempt?
10. Gustav, his moods, in the house, the divorce, memories of his wife, of his mother, the screenplay? The impact of the experience with Rachel? Wanting Eric in the film, and his not wanting him in? The scenes with Eric, at home, with Nora, packing the lunch, going to school?
11. Nora, the script, going through the motions, the suicide sequence, the stall, Erik returning, the abrupt stop?
12. The alteration of the house, audience puzzle as to what was happening, Nora and her going through the scenario of the suicide attempt, the revelation that it was a set, her performance, the response of staff, Agnes, and the resolution of the family difficulties? The future?