Sentimental Value

I feel like this movie would relate a lot to those who don't have a good relationship with their parents. I definitely related to Nora because I had a difficult relationship with my dad, so I understood how she was feeling the entire movie. She also uses the same tactics that I do when it comes to dealing with conflict (leaving, always saying "I'm fine," not answering calls or texts). Seeing her get depressed near the end of the movie was really hard to watch because I've been in her position before. She also gets stage fright and tried to run away before a show. Nora and Gustav are definitely alike because Gustav also leaves as an escape tactic when he's fighting with Nora and Agnes's mother. They both make cheeky jokes (Gustave giving Agnes's son Irreversible and The Piano Teacher for his birthday was absolutely hysterical), and they both communicate with each other through facial expressions rather than talking things out. Even Gustav says in his drunken phone call to Nora that they're both sensitive. They also both have their own trauma that they are still dealing with, Nora with Gustav being an absent father and Gustav dealing with his mother's suicide. Agnes, on the other hand, is more "put together" than Nora because she has a husband and son. She also acts as a mediator between Nora and Gustav. She's also a great sister because she tries to reach out to Nora a lot and even checks up on her when she goes through her depression. She even helps her clean up while Nora reads her father's script. Even though Agnes seems like she dealt with his father being absent better than Nora, she says it's because has Nora to support her. The scene where she breaks down in Nora's arms and they comfort each other was so powerful and had me crying in the theaters. I don't think Gustav is an evil person. Yeah, he's a shitty dad, but he's also just a really fucked up person based on the trauma that he's dealt with. He also uses the house as a way to deal with his mother's death. Even though his relationship with his daughters is poor, he uses his art as a way of communicating with them. He had Agnes star in one of his movies and Agnes even says that she loved it because she got to spend time with her father. Now, he wants to make a movie with Nora. The way he wrote the main character's suicide as a way to reach out to Nora is a way of saying that even though he wasn't there for her, he understands her and in a way it's kind of being used as an apology. When they finally work on the movie together at the end, they look at each other that in a way feels like the beginning of their relationship mending. Elle Fanning as Rachel Kemp is great as well. She really wants to understand the role she plays, but feels really uncomfortable when she realizes that she's supposed to be like Nora. The part where she has Nora's hairstyle is really jarring. Gustav sees her as someone with potential and he also feels comfortable with her because she wouldn't judge him on his actions like his daughters did. But she knows that the role was destined for her daughter so I had major respect for her bowing out of filming. Usually actresses would continue with their projects no matter what hardships they face. This is a really good movie that deals with broken familial relationships and generational trauma, and I would recommend it to anyone who has those experiences to watch this movie.