Sentimental Value (2025) Review

Review by H. T. Davey

Directed by: Joachim Tier

★★★★★

The acclaimed Norwegian film director Joachim Trier returns to cinemas with a beautifully crafted, sensitive story about family and memory. Sentimental Value follows a father and his two adult daughters as they navigate reconciliation and the weight of their shared past. We see how the father’s trauma has seeped into the daughters’ lives, shaping their insecurities and emotional struggles. Each character attempts to hide from their feelings, but in the second half of the film, they can no longer maintain this denial and instead begin to embrace their grief, sadness, anger, loneliness, and fear.

The film centres on complex family dynamics and places strong emphasis on reconciliation, particularly in a father’s attempt to mend his relationship with his daughters. It explores generational trauma and the childhood wounds experienced by both parent and child, revealing how these experiences continue to affect their adult lives. We witness the impact of trauma and mental health within a family unit, especially the ways these issues influence communication. These themes are conveyed in a subtle, quiet manner, often through intimate close-up shots that capture raw emotion with minimal dialogue. The film features compelling performances from Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård.

The family begins the story disconnected and distant, but by the end the sisters start to heal as they learn more about their family history and reconnect with themselves. The film presents vulnerability as a strength, highlights how art can serve as a form of self-expression, and underscores the value of honest communication. It acknowledges that the past cannot be forgotten, yet encourages healing from historical wounds through patience and love.

Sentimental Value is an accomplishment in screenwriting and performance, earning eight Golden Globe nominations and expected to receive Academy Award nominations in acting, writing, and Best International Feature Film.

Rated R in Australia, the movie addresses themes of mental health and suicide, so viewers sensitive to these topics may wish to take care before watching. However, the subject matter is handled with remarkable sensitivity and thoughtfulness.

In cinemas from December 25.

H. T. Davey Reviews

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