Sentimental Value

Following their beloved mother’s passing, sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve), a neurotic stage actress, and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), a selfless therapist, must contend with their long-absent father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård) barging back into their lives. A once-revered film director now barely evading obscurity’s undertow, he believes that a new, deeply personal project can salvage his career. But when Nora refuses the role he wrote specifically for her, Gustav finds a new muse in an eager but unpolished Hollywood star (Elle Fanning), sending his botched reconciliation spiraling further into chaos.

Joachim Trier’s superb follow-up to The Worst Person in the World sees him collaborating once more with Reinsve to craft an endlessly expressive, utterly transfixing protagonist whose mercurial nature keeps us on tenterhooks. Skarsgård’s knack for finely calibrated gestures is likewise a wonder to behold, pitting Gustav’s oversized ego against his burgeoning conscience as they wrestle for dominion. Abetted by outstanding performances, Trier mines both humour and heartbreak from these damaged souls’ attempts to mend their frayed family ties.

Grand Prix, Cannes 2025; Oscar Submission: Norway