by Francesco Stumpo
Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value was the emotional centerpiece of Cannes 2025—a film that doesn’t shout, but devastates in whispers. Awarded the Grand Prix and greeted with an extended standing ovation, it struck a deep chord with audiences and critics alike.
At its core is a fractured family: two sisters and their estranged father, a celebrated filmmaker. When art and life collide—through a film script that mirrors their shared past—the emotional wounds reopen with painful clarity.
Trier’s strength lies in nuance. The film moves fluidly between memory and present reality, blurring the line between performance and authenticity. Renate Reinsve delivers a restrained yet powerful performance, while Stellan Skarsgård embodies a father whose artistic brilliance cannot mask emotional failure.
Rather than offering resolution, Sentimental Value dwells in the discomfort of unfinished relationships. It is a film about what cannot be said—and the heavy cost of silence.
Quiet, devastating, and exquisitely performed, it stands as one of the most mature works of the festival.
