Sentimental Value

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2025 saw Norwegian director Joachim Trier unveiling his latest work, Sentimental Value, at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The event took place on a Wednesday evening at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, serving as Trier’s comeback to the festival following the success of his 2021 release, The Worst Person in the World. This film brought Renate Reinsve critical acclaim with her Best Actress win and two Oscar nominations for Trier.

In the esteemed lineup of the Cannes competition, Sentimental Value stands out as a potential winner of the Palme d’Or. Once more, Trier collaborates with Renate Reinsve, who shares screen time with Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning. As reported by Deadline, all four actors graced the red carpet prior to the film’s premiere.

The movie narrates the tale of Nora (Reinsve), a theater actress, who meets her long-lost father Gustav (Skarsgård), a once-acclaimed director in film. Her sister Agnes (Lilleaas) is also present for this reunion. Gustav proposes a role to Nora in his return project, but when she declines, the part goes to an emerging Hollywood actress portrayed by Fanning. This decision triggers intricate family dynamics and lingering emotional conflicts.

In his own words, Trier expressed that the film-making process brought about numerous tears due to the profound impact of the actors. He characterized Sentimental Value as a highly intimate narrative, situated within a picturesque, antique timber house in Oslo, which he affectionately referred to as a key character in the movie.

In her own excitement for Trier’s work, Elle Fanning secured her role in the film. At Cannes, she expressed her admiration saying, “I am a huge fan. I believe The Worst Person in the World is one of the finest films from the last decade, if not longer.” She further shared, “Upon receiving the script from Joachim, I read it and found myself crying by the end. It is incredibly emotional.

In the interval between shooting A Complete Unknown and a fresh Predator production in New Zealand, Fanning jet-setted to Oslo. Trier applauded her acting, remarking, “She’s an authentic individual, genuinely considerate and team-oriented, with a cool demeanor.

The film titled “Sentimental Value” is generating significant excitement as a contender for the Palme d’Or. Although Cannes doesn’t keep records of clapping durations, its 19-minute standing ovation ranks among the longest in modern times.

The movie had already been purchased by Neon, a distributor known for the last five films that won the Palme d’Or. Mubi owns the distribution rights in other parts of the world. Trier, who frequently works with the same team, referred to the process as a family coming together to work on the project.

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2025-05-22 14:08