Pictured: Plenty of sentimental value (CREDIT: Christian Belgaux/NEON)
Starring: Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning, Anders Danielsen Lie, Cory Michael Smith, Catherine Cohen, Andreas Stoltenberg Granerud, Øyvind Hesjedal Loven
Director: Joachim Trier
Running Time: 133 Minutes
Rating: R for Language, Brief Nudity, and Suicide References
Release Date: November 7, 2025 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: Let’s just say, theater actress Nora Borg (Renate Reinsve) doesn’t exactly have the best relationship with her filmmaker father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård). Unfortunately for her, he’s determined to make his way back into her life following the death of her mother. She at least has an ally when it comes to family affairs in the form of her younger sister Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), though Agnes has plenty on her own plate with her husband and young son. So Nora will just have to make her own decisions when Gustav tries to cast her in the lead role of his new movie that he wants to film in the family house. It’s inspired by the life of his mother, who was tortured by the Nazis during World War II and eventually killed herself. Nora doesn’t really have any interest in collaborating with her dad, so instead he casts the super-famous American actress Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning). But he’s still pretty deadset on having his daughters be an integral part of the process as he tries to fix their broken relationships.
What Made an Impression?: Fresh Despite the Familiarity: How many movies have I seen about families repairing their dysfunction, or about people making movies, or about people making movies while repairing their dysfunctions? Well, I see a lot of movies, and those subjects come up a lot in this medium, so the answer is undoubtedly: more than a few. Sentimental Value is certainly operating in deeply familiar territory, but it doesn’t feel like the same-old, same-old. Perhaps we can credit that to the deeply felt performances, the thoroughly plugged-in chemistry (especially between Reinsve and Skarsgård),the sensitive direction from Joachim Trier, or some combination of all of the above. Whatever the formula is, it works.
Dangerous, But Ultimately Comforting: In case it wasn’t clear already, there’s a lot of trauma and anxiety in this family. And it hangs heaviest on Nora. So much so that you fear that another terrible tragedy could be looming. Indeed, Trier structures the story in such a way that you sense the tension of potential disaster inviting itself into the house just as things kick into the final gear. But then, we come in for a safe landing. It all adds up to a simultaneously invigorating and calming cinematic reward.
Sentimental Value is Recommended If You Like: Old home movies, Genealogy research, Film screening Q&A’s
Grade: 4 out of 5 Daughters
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