‘Sentimental Value’ Travels from Cannes to Trivandrum, Touching Audiences with Family, Memory, and the Weight of the Past

Thiruvananthapuram: The applause that greeted Sentimental Value at its Cannes premiere echoed just as strongly at the IFFK in Thiruvananthapuram. What unites these two receptions is the passion of people for whom cinema is a way of life. The difference, perhaps, lies in class: the ovation at Cannes comes from a privileged audience, while in Thiruvananthapuram, it comes from ordinary viewers, yet carries the same warmth and authenticity.

Jokim Trier’s Sentimental Value is a deeply moving exploration of human relationships. The story revolves around Gustav Borg, a father who, following the death of his former wife, seeks to reconnect with his daughters, Nora and Agnes. Gustav assumes that after years of absence, his children will welcome him back without hesitation. His journey into their lives forms both the emotional core of the story and the backdrop for his next film project.

Yet the elder daughter, scarred by a troubled childhood, refuses to embrace him. The younger daughter does not completely reject him, but she quietly resists his selfishness. Gustav’s long absence is rooted in his own past, particularly his relationship with his mother. The film subtly reveals how the shadows of history can reach across generations.

The two sisters, shaped by a difficult upbringing, navigate life in strikingly different ways, a portrayal that is both poignant and deeply human.

The Borg family home itself emerges as a key character in the film. Within its walls lie buried arguments, long silences, and the echoes of strained relationships. By filming within this space, Gustav blurs the line between reality and imagination, turning the home into a magical cinematic landscape.

Scenes where Gustav withholds affection from his children yet offers it to another actress, Rachel (Elle Fanning), highlight the contradictions of human behaviour. The climactic single-shot sequence in this “film within a film” leaves a lasting impact, offering a profound meditation on human emotions and relationships.

Sentimental Value is undoubtedly one of the must-watch films at IFFK, a moving, thought-provoking portrayal of love, loss, and the enduring complexities of the human heart.