Movie Review – “Sentimental Value”
Every year, to coincide with the annual movie award season, a batch of films that previously did not receive local releases finally get the chance to be seen in small pockets of the Midwest.
Unless someone is really in the know of what is being released, they may be a bit perplexed by some films that are up for awards, something I also experience from time to time.
“Sentimental Value” is a film that snuck up on me, as I had never heard of it until I began pursuing articles on the best films of 2025, in which it was often mentioned.
Even though theaters nowadays are more willing to take risks in showcasing foreign films, it did not surprise me that this film is only now seeing a wider release, since it already has a fair number of awards and nominations. But, does it deserve all this critical attention?
The film follows sisters Nora (Renete Reinsev) and Agnes Borg (Inga Lilleass), who endure an uneasy relationship with their father, Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), who divorced their mother when they were young to focus on becoming a well-known film director.
Well into their adult years, the sisters’ father returns with the hope that Nora will play the lead in his final film. Nora rejects this proposal, leading Gustav to hire a famous movie actress to take her role in the film, an action that stirs deep emotional trauma within the entire family.
“Sentimental Value”, as the name implies, is a story about reflection and how one’s family history may shape who you are as you get older. It discusses how abuse can emerge even when it is not intentionally being inflicted, and how we attempt to shield ourselves from this pain that eventually resurfaces.
Throughout its two-hour runtime, you see the Borg family slowly open themselves up to the fact that there have been years of unspoken trauma, revealing uncomfortable truths about one another.
While the film delves deep into the lives of these characters, it also touches on themes such as childhood nostalgia, generational grief, depression, and the worries that come with aging.
The film surprised me with how much it attempted to convey, even though I feel the time spent on each subject was not equal. “Sentimental Value” is a fairly slow film that lingers on its characters’ emotional states through long, quiet moments.
The slow pace of this film may not resonate with some; even I felt sleepy at times, but it does work within the context of its lower-stakes conflict. Given how big and bold a lot of movies were this past year, it’s impressive how much this movie conveys through its characters’ softer facial expressions and body language. It still has instances where the actors eat up scenes with big, intense performances, but overall, it tended to be a very quiet, somber film.
While I did enjoy this movie, I also found myself struggling to talk about it outside of it, describing it as a pleasant watch. Its more subtle nature makes it difficult to interpret how all the aspects of its story tie back to the core drama, but I still resonated with many of the feelings it presented, and maybe it will for you as well.
I cannot confidently say this is a film that will sweep this award season; however, I more than understand its inclusion in the running. I didn’t adore this film, though I feel it’s one I will come to appreciate more over time.
