Film 2431 - Sentimental Value

Intro: I'm in my movie era once again and lately I've been trying to catch up with all the films that I missed during last year or saved "for later" and never went back to. So here we are, giving this franchise another chance after its disappointing latest entries. But I was looking for somthing fun and easy and I thought this one could be a good candidate.

Film 2431: "Sentimental Value" (2025), Joachim Trier
Watched: At the mnovies
Language: Norwegian, English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: One of my favourite movies from last year (even though I only watched it a couple of weeks ago), "Sentimental Value" continues the collaboration between Joachim Trier and Renate Reinsve after "The Worst Person in the World" came out in 2021.
I’m usually skeptical of movies that come out months before to overwhelming reviews, because that kind of hype tends to compromise the way I perceive both the film and the story. I inevitably start building expectations about where the screenplay will go and how great the cinematic experience is supposed to be — and I usually end up extremely disappointed. This time around, I wasn’t.
After a rough end to 2025, I think I needed a story that would value emotions over stunts, a quieter tone over chaotic storytelling, and, overall, something more intimate. In a way, I feel like I was destined to like "Sentimental Value" at this particular moment in my life. I especially resonated with the character of Nora (Reinsve): her complicated past resurfacing, her strained relationship with her father, the anxiety, the sadness. She’s obviously an extreme example of what depression — and what happens to you — can lead to, but especially right now, it was easy for me to see a little bit of myself in her.
Additionally, "Sentimental Value" has a strong aesthetic identity that deeply contributes to the film’s overall feeling. The house itself becomes one of the characters, and the story carefully explores its history, the people who lived in it, and how it looked in the past compared to the present. It’s fascinating and extremely well done, enhanced by a sort of documentary-like approach that I personally appreciate (the past, whether real or fictional, has always fascinated me).
Overall, I think this is a beautifully made film and a powerful story. The way it unfolds feels like a quiet storm, slowly building toward an ending that genuinely moved me. Renate Reinsve once again proves what an incredible lead she is. The entire cast is excellent, with performances that are mostly restrained yet deeply affecting. They stay with you long after the credits roll and you start walking back home. I particularly enjoyed Elle Fanning’s performance — an actress I’ve only truly discovered recently through The Great. Her work here feels tender, sincere, and emotionally honest, and I was genuinely impressed (even though I didn’t expect she might have a shot at an Oscar nomination).
Cast: Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Anders Danielsen Lie, Elle Fanning.
Box Office: $22 million
Worth a watch?: A great movie that opens with a powerful first scene, placing the audience in an uncomfortable position and immediately setting the tone for everything that follows. "Sentimental Value" is a quiet storm: it initially feels like the depiction of a delicate and intimate story, yet it eventually unleashes emotions and family trauma (and drama), a wave of feelings that hits you in ways you don’t quite anticipate. Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård are formidable — the latter definitely winning his first Oscar — and a true pleasure to watch on screen. I realize this isn’t a film for every audience, but it’s undeniably an intense and deeply emotional journey.
Awards: Nominated for 9 Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Actress (Renate Reinsve), Supporting Actress (for both Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning), Supporting Actor (Stellan Skarsgård), Original Screenplay, Editing, International Feature Film. The film won 1 Golden Globe (Skarsgård for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture) over 7 nominations (Best Motion Picture – Drama, Motion Picture – Non-English Language, Director, Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Screenplay, and Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture). In competition at Cannes 2025, it won the Grand Prix award.
Key word: Script.
Trailer
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