Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier has returned to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival with his latest film, Sentimental Value, which had its world premiere on Wednesday night in the festival’s Competition section. Trier, accompanied by his talented cast—including Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle Fanning—graced the iconic steps of the Palais des Festivals, marking another significant moment in his illustrious career.
This film serves as Trier’s follow-up to the critically acclaimed The Worst Person in the World, which premiered in the same Competition at Cannes in 2021. That film notably launched the international career of star Renate Reinsve, who won the festival’s coveted best actress award. The Worst Person in the World became a crossover arthouse hit, garnering two Oscar nominations, including Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay for Trier and co-writer Eskil Vogt.
Sentimental Value is a poignant family drama that delves into the estranged relationship between film director Gustav (played by Stellan Skarsgård) and his two daughters, Nora (portrayed by Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (played by Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas). In a bid to reconnect with his daughters, Gustav offers Nora the role of a young mother in his new film, a character clearly inspired by the tragic story of his own mother. However, when Nora declines the role, Gustav turns to Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (played by Elle Fanning), leading to tension as they prepare to shoot the project in their family home.
The audience at Cannes was captivated by Trier's Sentimental Value, giving the film an extraordinary 15-minute standing ovation filled with loud, raucous applause and heartfelt cheers. The admiration extended to the cast, with particularly enthusiastic responses for both Reinsve and Skarsgård, as well as for Lilleaas, whose portrayal of Agnes may mark her international breakthrough.
As the house lights illuminated the theater, the crowd erupted in applause, clearly moved by the film's emotional depth. Even as Trier and his cast, displaying a reserved Scandinavian demeanor, appeared somewhat shy about the acclaim, the audience continued to cheer and celebrate the film's powerful themes.
Trier's latest work, a follow-up to the award-winning The Worst Person in the World, wears its heart on its sleeve. The narrative, which explores family struggles and the profound connections of memory, evokes the works of Ingmar Bergman, Ibsen, and even a touch of Chekhov. It delivers a moving, though never overly sentimental, portrayal of the pain of loss and the healing potential of art.
In a reflective moment after the applause subsided, Trier quoted the famous filmmaker Adrian Brunel, saying, “What’s the Bunuel quote? ‘I make films for my family?' Well, I feel all of you are my family now.” This sentiment encapsulates the essence of Sentimental Value—a film that not only seeks to tell a story but also to forge connections among its audience.
