Sentimental Value – Film Review

Director – Joachim Trier
Writers – Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
Stars – Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas

Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård) has a difficult relationship with his two daughters. He is a famous film director who put his work ahead of his family. After Gustav divorced their mother, the two girls barely saw him during their childhood. Now, after the death of their mother, Gustav returns to see his two daughters, and in particular, Nora (Renate Reinsve), who is a successful actor. He wants to show her a film script which he has written for her!

Norwegian writer/ director Joachim Trier returns with his follow-up to The Worst Person in the World from 2021. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021, where Renate Reinsve won the Award for Best Actress. It was later nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature). This film is also attracting plaudits, having won the Grand Prix at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

The introduction of Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) into the mix causes further complications, with her interest in working with the great auteur Gustav Borg. It is a case of art imitating reality, with the Hollywood actor working on what is largely a Norwegian film.

The scale of this film seems different from what came before from Director Joachim Trier. Instead of an inward view of everyday individuals and their problems, this is the world of artists, who suffer equally from depression and other neuroses. It delves into the interesting dynamic between father and daughter, with some nice guarded interplay between Reinsve and Skarsgård. It’s always interesting to see new work from Trier, and this is no different; he’s certainly a director worth following. The sprawling nature of the work can feel a little flabby, with characters and scenes underdeveloped, but at times it delivers something quite unique.