The Trials and Tribulations of Family: Sentimental Value Review

Family is complicated. Yes, they shape who we are through life lessons, love, and nurturing….but that’s not always the case. Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value’ is an exploration of just that. The trauma we are met with from our own family shapes not only who we become, but the mental health and self-esteem we develop along the way. ‘Sentimental Value’ is beautiful in its ugliness, joyous in its despondence, relying heavily on the cast who gave magnificent performances that embodied the true nature of depression and family. Unfortunately, the film can feel sluggish and slow, leading what could’ve been a great film to fall firmly in the category of a good film.

Following the Borg family through several generations of family members who had at one point lived under the roof of a particular house, ‘Sentimental Value’, at its core, is about family and how families imprint upon each other. We, as people, are products of our environments and the events and tragedies that make up our lives. ‘Sentimental Value’ focuses more on the traumatic events of growing up and family. Gustav Borg is a worldwide famous director, a job that has driven him to become estranged from his daughters, Kora and Agnes. Having written what he considers his greatest film, Gustav initially offers Kora the lead role. Kora, in turn, declines the role, leading Gustav to cast another actress.

The Torment of Family

The heartbeat of ‘Sentimental Value’ is its superb cast. Stellan Skarsgård puts on a career performance as Gustav Borg, the drunkard father, ignorant of the damage that he’s done a a result of his own inherited trauma. He’s funny, but still maintains a sense of darkness about it. Skarsgård’s portrayal will undoubtedly receive many nominations this awards season.

Kora was a deeply wounded character that Renate Reinsve completely embodies. Her portrayal of depression and dwindling self-esteem is tormenting. It’s truly authentic. Elle Fanning, coming off her role in ‘Predator: Badlands’, plays her part superbly. Rachel Kemp, the movie star, could have been an overly simple caricature, but Fanning gives her heart. She is the glue that finally binds it altogether, as she, herself, does not go unscathed from Gustav Borg.

This film would not have worked had it not been for the cast chemistry. The authenticity with which they all interact with one another is a testament to what seems to be an authentic bond between castmates. It’s believable, and at the end of the day, chemistry can win awards. ‘Sentimental Value’ and its cast could very likely see a rewarding award season.

Through the Eyes of Our Homes

‘Sentimental Value’ cleverly tells its story through the use of the shared home. If you stop and think about it, the stories we tell come mostly from within the home. The home sees our faults and skills as well as our successes and failures. The film sought to tell a big story that crossed generations, so using the house as an anchor from which to tell its story makes sense if you think about it logically. It also makes the film better. I loved the idea of it from the moment the film began. The move was smart, allowing the audience to feel like an outsider watching in like a fly on the wall.

What ‘Sentimental Value’ nails unequivocally is the dynamics of family and how they imprint upon one another, good and bad. Family is messy and traumatic, but it shapes the very core of us. Its portrayal in this film made me uneasy at times as recognized my own trauma in what I was watching. ‘Sentimental Value’ finds its home in the trauma that it presents, but it never loses sight of the genuine love that exists at its center.

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The attention to detail when it came to the mental illnesses that manifest as a result of the trauma inflicted by family was pitch-perfect. Kora’s bout with depression and her self-esteem are all results of her father and his treatment or nontreatment of her. The way in which Agnes looks after her older sister is because she has done so for her. ‘Sentimental Value’ was a truly moving movie as a result of its delicacy and surgical of what and who make us who we are.

Final Thought:

‘Sentimental Value’ is a result of the masterful cast that it brings together. A story of family and trauma, the film finds itself bogged down by its overly long runtime and is slow throughout. The film, however, is absolutely worth a trip to the cinema in preparation for awards season.

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