'Sentimental Value' Is an Unmissable Family Drama, Cosmic in Scope

"The focus of Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value may be small and limited - one Norwegian family struggling to connect and communicate - and yet its emotional scope is downright cosmic. This is a film about life in the arts, about fulfillment and forgiveness, about performance, about stories true and falsely remembered, about home, about trauma, about allowing oneself to be seen and about some really excellent sweaters."

"And at its heart is Stellan Skarsgård, doing some of his finest work in years as an acclaimed film director, Gustav Borg, who always chose his work over his family. Gustav is a familiar type, the kind of charismatic narcissist that professions like film director seem to attract and, often, exaggerate. He's the kind who's able to forge deep and meaningful connections with actors he's just met and will only know for a few months that will produce great and lasting art."

Sentimental Value follows a Norwegian family struggling to connect while exploring the arts, fulfillment, forgiveness, performance, memory, home, trauma, and visibility. At its center is Gustav Borg, an acclaimed film director who chose work over family and now faces career decline while attempting reconciliation by making another movie. His daughters Nora and Agnes remain distant, with Agnes having starred as a child then abandoning acting. Netflix financing brings inside show-business moments as Rachel prepares to play a role inspired by Gustav's mother, who died by suicide in their home. Rachel dyes her hair to match Nora's in a Persona-like effort to understand both the character and Nora. Stellan Skarsgård gives one of his finest performances.

Read at Kqed