Sentimental Value
There are no words for this film. for me Sentimental Value feels too big to be fully processed by a human mind.
Nora’s actress is nothing short of a miracle. Her eyes do most of the talking. its a painfully honest one, as if she’s always one thought ahead of herself, already aware of the damage and still choosing to stand there.
The transitions between scenes by black screens and the complete silence are the best. They force you to sit with what just happened. No music and dialogue to guide you to explain what just happened. Just you and your thoughts and sometimes that silence speaks more than any soundtrack.
Nora being the eldest daughter hit especially hard. That responsibility of being an eldest sister, that fear of becoming your parent,constant question of what if I inherit the same wounds I grew up with? I think almost every eldest daughter carries that weight.
I don’t know if this film perfectly reflects everyone who’s searching for something deeper in life, but it certainly understands the feeling of looking for a place that finally feels like home. not physically but emotionally.
Scandinavian films always feel like a breath of fresh air. Compared to today’s cinema the repetitive lighting,constant English accents,same recycled plots,the obsession with looks, action, and forced intensity. this feels raw and honest. Most of the films try so hard to entertain that they forget to mean something deep.
This one doesn’t have a thriller, a romance, or grand spectacle. It doesn’t beg for attention. It’s simple and somehow for me it has everything. And that’s what stays with you.
That’s cinema.