Sentimental Value

Sentimental Value is about the painfully true haves and have-nots in the world, as well as the slow and inevitable fading of precious time. Another film to ponder about, and one that lingers in your mind, days after watching, by Joachim Trier, it explores family, memory and the modern era of cinema. At first, Sentimental Value’s plot may seem quite confusing - a film this simple, about the relationship between an estranged father and her daughters? But that’s the magic of this film - it takes such a simple yet effective story and marinates it through great acting, visual genius and themes very relevant to today. Gustav’s need to have Rachel in the film is so infuriating at first, furthermore when we see Nora’s slow but devastating reaction to it. Gustav is himself a hypocrite; he nags on and on about preservation, and the need to have films in the cinema, yet he casts what is supposed to be a shallow and ‘influencer’ actor, and, in the end, reduces the house to a soulless and minimalist nightmare that squanders any nostalgia of it’s previous skin. And once Rachel backs out and Nora manages to step in, it shows something - both Nora and Gustav recognise that their relationship can never be as good as what could’ve been, however they will just have to make do with the time they have, since it is sadly that or nothing. Additionally, Erik is put in Gustav’s film, solely to make sure a frailed relationship between Gustav and a family member never happens again. Once again, Joachim Trier is effortless as presenting his filmmaking skills. There are shots in this - particularly the escalator shot - that will stay with me for a while. His way of creating a visual piece of artwork really sticks his films to your mind, and they never want to let go. Additionally, his writing has the same effect - I’ll be thinking about that opening monologue about the house for possibly forever. It suddenly hits me as I write this how impactful this film really is - that is thanks to Joachim’s touch. Sentimental Value is mainly about the sad and slow passing of time. Due to time, Nora and Agnes will always have a frayed relationship with their father. Due to time, films will become more dominated by influencers and influencer culture. Due to time, i may forget parts of this film, but never the quality. Cannock Chase was the absolute perfect song to finish this with; a song about past times, and the wanting to go back, but the recognisance of the impossibility to do so.