Sentimental Value

Sentimental Value
Starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard, Inga Ibsodder Lilleaas, Elle Fanning
Directed by Joachim Trier

When we think of our home, we don't think about its history. Who lived there before we did? What was our childhood like living there? Is the house itself an entity all its own, keeping memories and moments like a valued hope chest that you can open to reminisce about the past? What happens inside the home is oftentimes a mystery, known only to those living in it and the house itself, and both the good and the bad shapes not just the people, but the house as well. What also resides in the house serves as sentimental value for people - pictures, objects, things seemingly so mundane have prolific effects on you because it brings you back to those moments in time. "Sentimental Value" is a hauntingly beautiful tale of a broken family, and the struggle to piece the broken parts back together.

Nora Borg (Renate Reinsve) is an actress who, along with her sister Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) endured the tumultuous relationship of their father and mother growing up. When their mother passes away, their estranged father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgard) arrives, hoping to make amends for his past mistakes by casting Nora in a movie he's directing. She refuses, unable to cope with the decades of abuse and neglect Gustav put on them, and he casts American actress Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) in the role instead, although he still wants Nora to play it. Agnes reads the script and feels that the story - which Gustav also wrote - is really a story about Nora, and that's why he wants her to play the role so badly, but Nora refuses to read it. 

Many times movies fall into the melodramatic camp, making moments feel more emotionally abusive than natural, almost like placing onions under your eyes to force you to try. "Sentimental Value" does no such thing, yet you'll find yourself crying nonetheless (especially in the film's final scene, which is haunting and unforgettable, one of the best scenes I've seen in any film this year). We see three characters who are brutally flawed and yet full of life and hope, epitomizing all the emotional beats as opposed to just being a one-note feel. These characters feel real, authentic, and you're fully invested in their journey as they traverse the ups and downs of a family torn apart by tragedy.

Renate Reinsve rejoins director Joachim Trier after their last beautiful collaboration "The Worst Person in the World" and once again brings the magic. As Nora, Reinsve allows herself to be fully immersed in the character, playing a flawed yet longing character that's multidimensional and profound. She's a stage actress who suffers from stage fright, sleeps with a married man, but longs for a family of her own. She lavishes love on her young nephew, but when it comes to her father she wants nothing to do with him, acting out in both macro and microaggressions that is also peppered with peaceful moments, such as them enjoying a cigarette together. Nora isn't all in on one emotion, but portrays them all, especially guilt and sadness. She's wrecked by what her father did to them at a young age, and finds it difficult to forgive him, even as he continually holds out an olive branch...with caveats of his own. Reinsve is unforgettable in the role.

Most American audiences know Stellan Skarsgard as being the father of Bill and Alexander, and also playing roles in blockbusters like "Dune" and "The Avengers," but he's an acclaimed actor in his own right - and "Sentimental Value" is his crowning achievement. Gustav feels like he hasn't done much wrong in regards to his daughters, but also understands that they're hurt by his actions in the past. He tries to rectify that the only way he knows how - by writing a movie about Nora and wanting her to play the part. He's surprised when she refuses, and oftentimes tries to bridge the gap between the two, again, in his own way - which doesn't come off as sincere. As someone who struggled with my own relationship with my father, I saw a lot of him in Gustav, and while we were never close I knew he cared about me in his own way, but was unable to show it - much like Gustav, elevating Skarsgard's performance even more.

The other supporting players both give awards-worthy performances all their own. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas plays Nora's younger sister Agnes who has everything Nora wants: a husband, a son, and a steady job and seems unfazed by the trauma their father caused. She is more diplomatic, academic, and understanding of both sides of the story until she breaks down as well, leading to a moving moment between the two sisters. Elle Fanning's Rachel is a famous actress who takes on Gustav's role, and does so in a careful, nuanced way. She's not the traditional snotty superstar, but someone who really feels for the character and understands the underlying context behind it.

This is all surrounded by stunning cinematography by the great Kasper Tuxen and perfect editing from Olivier Bugge Coutté that further pushes the story forward, giving a lived-in feel for the characters that leaves indelible prints on your soul long after the movie ends.

The Score: A+