Review SENTIMENTAL VALUE: Matters of the Heart and Feelings Are Never Easy

Kapanlagi.com - SENTIMENTAL VALUE is one of those family dramas that feels very personal and full of emotion, especially for those familiar with the complex dynamics between parents and children. This film gives us an entry point into the world of Nora and Agnes, two sisters who grew up with the same wounds but chose very different paths in life. Through their perspectives, the audience is invited to explore how a dark past can shape a fractured relationship while also opening up opportunities for reconciliation that isn’t always sweet.

Before delving too deeply into the details of the story, it should be noted that this article contains spoilers. Many of the film's strengths lie in its emotional twists, small conversations that reveal character and family dynamics that unfold gradually. So if you want to enjoy the film in its entirety, now might be the time to bookmark this. If you’re ready to dive into the old wounds of the Borg family, continue to the review.

1. Brief Synopsis

Nora in the film Sentimental Value (cr: Mer Film)

After the death of their mother, two estranged sisters, Nora and Agnes Borg, are forced to confront their father, Gustav, a former great director who left the family when they were children. The old wounds that have yet to heal become more pronounced as both, with very different life choices, find themselves back in Gustav's orbit.

Gustav is now busy working on an autobiographical script about his mother’s trauma, hoping that this work can revive his reputation. When Nora declines the offer for the lead role, he chooses Hollywood actress Rachel Kemp instead. However, behind this film project, Gustav harbors a hidden mission: to mend his relationship with his two daughters, even though this effort may risk reopening wounds that might be better left closed.

2. Throughout 2 hours and 13 minutes, we will be invited to delve into the dynamics of Nora Borg (Renate Reinsve) and her family, particularly her relationship with her father (Stellan Skarsgard)

Nora Borg (Renate Reinsve) and her father (Stellan Skarsgard) (cr: Mer Film)

3. Behind Nora's smile and her shining career as an actor, there is an emotional wound that has yet to be healed. This film takes us to slowly unravel it.

Nora smiles in one of the scenes of SENTIMENTAL VALUE (cr: Mer Film)

4. Agnes's perspective, Nora's younger sister, in responding to that emotional wound further enriches the dimensions of the story presented.

Nora with her sister, Agnes (cr: Mer Film)

5. The emotional wound is caused by Gustav's long absence from Nora and Agnes's lives. He suddenly returns when both are already adults. Just being present is certainly not enough to heal the wounds.

Gustav brings a thick book while talking to Nora (cr: Mer Film)

6. SENTIMENTAL VALUE is filled with narratives and dialogues that give us clues about what the characters we are watching are truly like.

Gustav and Nora are talking (cr: Mer Film)

7. Through the presence of Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), for example, we will slowly delve into the fact that Gustav is a figure who is more than just a "father who neglects his daughter."

Rachel Kemp and Gustav on the beach (cr: Mer Film)

8. Joachim Trier understands very well that matters of the heart are not as simple as guessing 1+1=2. Each character undergoes a reconciliation process that is unhurried, subtle, and may deceive audiences accustomed to straightforward narratives.

Nora looks sad in SENTIMENTAL VALUE (cr: Mer Film)

9. The story may be about family in a simple scope, but the cinematography... is a feast for the eyes.

Rachel Kemp and Gustav on the beach (cr: Mer Film)

10. For a film that takes us through emotions and feelings, SENTIMENTAL VALUE deserves a 9/10. Even a 9.5 for its soundtrack setlist.

Film Review SENTIMENTAL VALUE (cr: Mer Film)

(kpl/cvn)