Synopsis

After the death of their mother, Estranged sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their once-famous director father, Gustav(Stellan Skaarsgard). He tries to revive his career with a personal film project, casting a Hollywood star (Elle Fanning) When Nora (Renate Reinsve) refuses a role, it leads to confrontations about art, legacy, and family trauma, in this humorous and heartbreaking film.

Critics Views

“Sentimental Value is uncommonly rich in emotional rewards and contemplative in its reflections on the places where we live becoming a permanent repository for our memories, remaining there even after we move on. The movie’s poignancy accumulates gradually, every supple turn expertly modulated as the presence of generations past becomes more tangible.”
The Hollywood Reporter

“On its surface, the film may touch on the familiar theme of how artists draw from their own lives, but Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard bring incredible tenderness to a story that is ultimately about what children and parents never say to one another — and whether those lifelong silences can ever be broken.”
Screen Daily

Oscar – Winner:
Best International Feature Film

Oscar – Nominated:
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Best Achievement in Directing – Joachim Trier
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Renate Reinsve
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Stellan Skarsgård
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas
Best Original Screenplay – Joachim Trier (writer) & Eskil Vogt (writer)
Best Achievement in Film Editing – Olivier Bugge Coutté

Cannes Grand Prize of the Festival – Winner:
Joachim Trier

Cannes Palme D’or Nominated:
Joachim Trier

Golden Globes Winner:
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture – Stellan Skarsgård

Golden Globes Nominated:
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture – Elle Fanning & Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas
Best Director – Motion Picture –  Joachim Trier
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture – Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt
Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language

BAFTA Awards Winner:
Best Film Not in the English Language

BAFTA Awards Nominated:
Best Film
Best Director – Joachim Trier
Best Screenplay (Original) – Eskil Vogt & Joachim Trier
Best Leading Actress – Renate Reinsve
Best Supporting Actress – Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas & Stellan Skarsgård
Best Casting –  Yngvill Kolset Haga & Avy Kaufman

Film Rating

IMDb
 Critics: 86%  Audience 77%

Rotten Tomatoes
Critics positive review 95%   Audience Liked It 94%

 Stockbridge Audience Score: 89%

Audience Comments

Actually: Excellent +. I’m so pleased to have been able to see it. Thank you for screening it.
Too long and a bit boring
Riveting performances all round from the four lead actors. Bergman could not have done it better. Deserved all the awards it received.
Scandinavian congruence at its best
It really made you think. Wonderful acting
Not my sort of film
Scandi dour fair well executed. Sad with moments of high intensity with little light relief.
30 minutes too long!
The film really gripped me and held my attention throughout.
This was a beautifully shot film that was moving and thoughtful. The slow gently unwinding of the story contrasting with the emotional devastation was expertly handled in the way the best European cinema can.
Great depth of character and story, even with all the sadness and anger making it feel rather dark – in a good way, because this is so much the reality of so many people’s lives, not enough or good enough communication, both listening and understanding. The father role was ultimately depressing in that he was using his film and his daughter to express himself rather than attempting any repair attempt with his daughters, particularly Nora of course.
Thoughtful, loved those spaces without dialogue but deeply meaningful. Superb acting too.
Excellent acting with a very moving storyline which kept you on your toes! Quite thought provoking too.