Sentimental Value

Her sadness is… it’s such an overwhelming part of her. Joachim Trier is 2/2. An absolute masterclass in directing a complex and fleshed out set of characters with respect to the art form. Renate Reinsve is also 2/2 and much like my first exposure to her, she is a generational talent in bringing rich and grounded characters to life. The micro expressions and emotional control are incredible. Stellan Skarsgård is also at the top top top of his game. The layers that he is able to pull back from scene to scene through the entire 2 hour runtime is unnervingly good. Those two together are like Peanut Butter and chocolate, Bron and Wade, & Macaroni and cheese. Again, a strength of Trier, is the respect for the form. It took a 20 minute conversation about this movie to even get my thoughts straight because of the amount of feelings i was left with. While I was only close to crying once or twice, there’s an incredible sense of vulnerability and authenticity to the characters and their story. The script is rich and vibrant, not because it has iconic lines, but because it is dedicated to itself. It knows its core and it sticks to it, even when you may not see it in the moment. There are some choices with editing and composition that are breathtaking too. It’s beautiful, of course, and so grounded, yet unafraid to take big dramatic, theatrical swings. It’s beautiful, and it lingers.