Sentimental Value (2025)

Families can be tough. It's nice when years of family trauma can be wrapped up in a film just over two hours long.

In all seriousness, this film is a magnificent exercise in exorcising your family demons. Like 'The Secret Agent," this film is an extremely slow burn with each vignette of life folding on top of the other until they all unfold into a clean pile. 

The editing, at first, was jarring. I had to research to see if the hard cuts to black after a scene were a style or if something was wrong with my screening. But they were purposeful and very poignant and very apparent that Olivier Bugge Coutté deserves the nomination!! 

As most people are saying, the acting by the family members is the true star here, with Stellan Skarsgård leading the way and Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas not far behind! 

An aspect of the film that I feel isn't getting enough attention is the cinematography by Kasper Tuxen. There are some stellar wide shots as well as tracking shots that fully immerse the viewer in the scene. Really under-the-radar stuff that just fills the screen with beauty. 

At times hard to watch, but always engaging, this film should be seen by anyone and everyone.