REVIEW: “Sentimental Value” (2025)

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Joachim Trier’s new film, “Sentimental Value,” is a follow-up to his acclaimed 2022 movie, “The Worst Person in the World.” Working again with co-writer Eskil Vogt, Trier crafts a complex and moving story. The film uses the making of a movie as a backdrop to examine how art can help people find forgiveness and understanding. It’s a challenging subject, but Trier handles it skillfully, delivering a mature and insightful work.

Trier once again collaborates with the talented Renate Reinsve, marking their third project together. Reinsve plays Nora Borg, an actress working in both theater and television. Nora and her sister, Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), are deeply affected when their long-absent father, Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), suddenly returns. Gustav left when the girls were young, and his reappearance stirs up difficult emotions, particularly for Nora.

Gustav is a successful filmmaker, but his career has strained his relationships with his daughters. It’s been fifteen years since his last movie, but he’s recently written a deeply personal script. He hopes to reconnect with his daughters through this new work, using the same creative storytelling that initially distanced him from them.

One of the film’s most powerful scenes – and arguably one of the year’s best – features Gustav inviting Nora to a diner for a much-needed conversation. The strained relationship between father and daughter is instantly palpable, expertly conveyed through the writing of Trier and Vogt. What truly makes the scene shine are the incredibly authentic performances of Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård, who subtly reveal the deep emotions their characters are grappling with. The resulting conversation is completely captivating.

Gustav excitedly shares his new screenplay with Nora, declaring it his best work yet and insisting she’s the only one who can play the lead role. Nora is deeply offended by his presumption and immediately refuses. Gustav seems surprised by her reaction, stating he wrote the script specifically for her. While Nora’s anger is understandable, the film doesn’t portray Gustav as a simple villain. Instead, it leaves the audience wondering about his motivations. Is he hoping the script will repair his relationship with his daughters? Is he strategically using Nora to secure funding for his movie? Or is there a more personal reason behind his request?

“Sentimental Value” is a film that explores family relationships, particularly the bond between fathers and daughters, and also between sisters. Nora and Agnes have a realistically portrayed relationship that deepened as they faced challenges together. While Agnes appears to have a settled life with a loving marriage and young child, Nora hides her insecurities behind a tough exterior. She battles anxiety and loneliness, often making poor decisions that ultimately cause her more pain. Despite their differences, the sisters share a strong connection, which the director skillfully examines throughout the movie.

The family home is a central part of the story, filled with both cherished memories and painful experiences from generations past. Gustav, the father, still owns the house, a revelation his daughters discovered after their mother’s death. Having grown up within its walls, he’s deeply connected to the secrets it holds, and that’s why he’s hesitant to sell. He’s still grappling with these childhood secrets, and his new film is his attempt to come to terms with them.

As a film buff, I was completely hooked by how realistically the family interacted, and things just kept getting more intense. The real drama kicked in when Gustav decided to film his new movie at their house. And it wasn’t just that – he cast Rachel Kemp, a really famous American actress, in the lead role that Nora had previously refused. It was such a clever move by Trier, forcing Nora and Gustav to confront things in a totally new way and really showing us the complexities of their relationship. It was genuinely moving to watch how their dynamic unfolded because of it.

Joachim Trier’s new film, “Sentimental Value,” confirms his position as a leading filmmaker today – though many would say he’s already proven himself. It’s arguably his best work yet, skillfully expanding his storytelling while still capturing the personal, thoughtful moments that define his films. Trier explores complex themes like broken relationships, family history, and the power of art to help us heal, all with a confident and compelling vision that draws you completely into the story.

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2025-11-28 20:58