Sentimental Value (M) – 135 minutes

Fraught familial relationships rise to the surface as a father steps back into the life of his two adult daughters.

Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgard) was a renowned filmmaker who hasn’t made a feature in 15 years.

A cinematic retrospective showcases just how insightful he is.

Notwithstanding his professional success, he walked away from his family, divorcing his wife and leaving his children metaphorically hanging.

All these years later, that devastation is still apparent, especially with his older daughter, Nora (Renate Reinsve), a gifted but fragile stage actor.

Still, she was there for her younger sister, Agnes Borg Pettersen (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), when they were growing up and privy to fighting between their parents.

Agnes, who was cast in a memorable role in one of her father’s films when she was just a child, has gone on to marry and have a young son.

Now, Gustav has written a script that is very close to home.

He asks Nora to front the picture, but she wants nothing to do with it because the pair has difficulty communicating.

Never mind the fact that Gustav wants the shoot to be in the family home that he still owns, even though he no longer lives there.

So, Gustav engages young Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), who admires his work. 

Gustav would also like Agnes’ son, Erik (Øyvind Hesjedal Loven) to be part of the project. As with Nora, Agnes, who avoids confrontation, doesn’t want that.

And then she reads the script … and it is remarkable.

Unease, discomfort and tension are mainstays of this production, as the adult children try to come to terms with a father who has been largely absent. 

As you can tell, that is not easy.

Tears are shed and family secrets uncovered.

Eskil Vogt’s script is a sensitive one, which Norwegian director Joachim Trier allows to breathe.

Kasper Tuxen’s close up cinematography acts like a window to the soul, especially when it comes to Renate Reinsve’s characterisation of Nora.

Much of the feeling is in the unspoken and that is where Stellan Skarsgard and Reinsve come to the fore.

They are such fine actors that a glance here and look there is all it takes to engage the audience.

There is undeniable pain too in Inga Ibsdotter Lille’s representation of Agnes.

Elle Fanning excels as Gustav’s highly respectful second choice as lead.

Sentimental Value is a tumultuous emotional journey, handled with care and conviction.

It scores an 8 out of 10.