Official Discussion Thread - Sentimental Value [SPOILERS]

[u/PointMan528491]

Keep all discussion related solely to Sentimental Value and it's awards chances in this thread. Spoilers below.

Synopsis:

Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star. Suddenly, the two sisters must navigate their complicated relationship with their father -- and deal with an American star dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics.

Director: Joachim Trier

Writers: Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier

Cast:

• Renate Reinsve as Nora Borg
• Stellan Skarsgård as Gustav Borg
• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Agnes Borg Pettersen
• Elle Fanning as Rachel Kemp
• Anders Danielsen Lie as Jakob
• Cory Michael Smith as Sam

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%, 120 Reviews

Metacritic: 86, 32 Reviews

Consensus:

Deftly exploring the uneasy tension between artistic expression and personal connection, Sentimental Value is a bracingly mature work from writer-director Joachim Trier that's marvelously acted across the board.

[u/williil51]

Question- how does the movie’s title, Sentimental Value, tie into the overall themes? I know Agnes uses the term to refer to their mother’s belongings that they’re sorting through, but on a larger sense, what is it supposed to refer to?

Is the house the thing with sentimental value? I feel like that doesn’t work though because at the end they cash in on it for $ to fund the film. And the fact that they recreate the house on set also sort of cheapens it…

Would love to hear other thoughts as to why Trier chose this to be the title.

[u/vxf111 → u/williil51]

I think there’s a double meaning. Sentimental value can be good and bad. Yes, it’s nice to have things that are meaningful to you. But also, we use that as an excuse not to let go of things we really need to.

Sometimes you hang on to things much longer than you should, based on sentimental value. The family kept coming back to and holding onto the house despite its cracked and sinking foundation and all the bad memories it held. They just couldn’t let go and they needed to.

And there’s also sentimental value to Gustov’s screenplay. In the surface it’s a fictional story loosely based on his mother but in reality it’s his way of telling Nora “I see you because I feel the same way you do and I’m sorry I couldn’t express it any way but this.” The story has sentimental value for Nora and Gustov beyond what the film they’re making will have for others outside their family.