After the tragic death of their mother, Sentimental Value focuses on sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) as their estranged father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), an acclaimed film director, reenters their lives. His motivations are far from noble, something that soon becomes clear when he asks Nora, an actress, to star in his new film. After she turns down the role, Gustav instead turns to Rachel (Elle Fanning), an American actress at the height of her popularity. Even then, it becomes painfully clear that this role and this story were always meant to stay within the family.

Written and directed by Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value feels instantly relatable for anyone who has grown up in a dysfunctional family, particularly those shaped by divorce and the complicated emotions that come with it. The characters never feel like people created to serve a story. Instead, they feel instantly recognisable, with real and raw emotions unfolding before the audience’s eyes as they are forced to confront Gustav’s uncomfortable reemergence and the feelings that come with it. It would have been easy for Trier to lean into needless melodrama or create a clear villain, but instead he avoids that entirely, allowing the film to explore the true complexities of family relationships. This is particularly evident in the stark contrast between the sisters and their individual relationships with their father.

For a film like this to work as well as Sentimental Value does, the performances have to be pretty much perfect, and they undoubtedly are. Renate Reinsve is rightfully being praised for her leading role, playing an overprotective sister and aunt while carrying the weight of unresolved trauma caused by Gustav. The pain and resentment she brings to the screen feel completely real, likely leaving audiences reaching for the tissues and perhaps confronting some uncomfortable truths in their own lives. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas is just as strong, offering a different side of the same fractured relationship, one that appears more forgiving but no less complicated. Stellan Skarsgård keeps Gustav grounded throughout, portraying his selfishness in a way that feels honest, while also revealing a man clearly struggling with his own unresolved issues. And although Elle Fanning has a smaller role, she brings a surprising emotional weight, making each of her scenes feel considered and memorable.

Sentimental Value is packed with incredible performances and some of the most emotionally poignant scenes of the year, supported by thoughtful, confident storytelling. It is a genuine and well deserved awards contender, even in a year as strong as 2025.