Set against the Scandinavian isolation of Oslo, “Sentimental Value” follows the Borg family as their world changes upon the return of their absent father. Renate Reinsve leads the ensemble once again after her and writer/director Joachim Trier’s 2021 collaboration in “Worst Person in the World.” Reinsve plays theater actress Nora, the daughter of an established and critically adored filmmaker Gustav Borg (Stellan Starsgård). Borg’s other daughter, Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), was a child star in his early films, but chose to pivot away from the spotlight to focus on starting a family.
The inciting incident of the film is the death of Nora and Agnes’ mother. Gustav’s arrival home in mourning is met with cold bitterness from the sisters, showing viewers how absent a father he was during their childhood as he prioritized filmmaking over family. Complex displays of resentment and adoration from both Nora and Agnes come to focus as both daughters continue to struggle with their identity in Gustav’s eyes.
Days later, Gustav meets with Nora to propose that she star in his first film in many years — a film that would take place in their childhood home. Nora refuses, without even reading the script which Gustav said he wrote especially for her. A few weeks later, Gustav has cast the young American film star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) in her place, inciting a strange combination of betrayal and apathy within Nora. As pre-production and filming progress, Nora, Agnes, Gustav and Rachel re-invent their bonds while also forging new ones in the cramped setting of their old house.
Trier uses language to divide his cast of characters; Agnes and Nora speak almost exclusively in Norwegian, while Gustav sometimes switches to English. As the sole English-speaking character, Rachel is left in the dark. “Sentimental Value” creates a real-world divide that deepens the duality between the real world and the world on set. As Fanning expresses both wonder and isolation, the audience begins to understand her character’s unique experience.
But the bulk of the film’s acting power comes from the sister-to-sister dynamics portrayed by Reinsve and Lilleaas. The two feel like real-life siblings, as if the footage came straight from a documentary. This connects to Trier’s overarching theme of familial relationships and how they ebb and flow across one’s lifetime, portrayed throughout the many unique trauma-laden interactions between Gustav and his daughters. “Sentimental Value” is a film that approaches the industry in a nuanced yet familiar way, exploring feelings of identity, power, and family.
The film's stellar cast has received Academy Award nominations in three of the four acting categories, with Stellan Skarsgård’s recent Golden Globe win putting him one step closer to that elusive Oscar. With Reinsve and Fanning securing nominations for Lead and Supporting actress as well. Additionally, Joaquim Trier received nominations for both his direction and screenplay, as well as the coveted best picture nomination. While Sentimental Value’s nine nominations are nothing to scoff at, it is amidst an intensely competitive Academy Awards that will surely leave many deserving people more upset than not.
This article was edited by Alfie Pritchard, Jessica Ackerman and Walker Whalen. Copy editing by Avery Grossman, Arin Burrell, Paige Caron and Nicole Kariuki.
