Sentimental Value
Sentimental Value opens in theaters on November 7. Not yet rated. Mr F would say 15+.
An intimate exploration of family, memories, and the reconciliatory power of art.
STORY: A
A complicated, poignant family portrait.
The film pulls you in immediately with an Amelie-esque montage that effortlessly whips through the Borg family’s history.
It then firmly hooks you by swerving into a whirling sequence where Nora navigates a transcendent freakout.
The juxtaposition of these two opening sequences is both confusing and breathtaking. Those qualities set the tone not just for the film, but for the family at the heart of the story.
PEOPLE: A+
Unforgettable performances from top to bottom.
At least a half dozen performances will resonate with you long after the credits roll.
Renate Reinsve guides Nora with grace and honesty as she careens between vulnerability, vivacity, and some world class sass.
Stellan Skarsgård holds Gustav at a distance from the audience. But like a distant lighthouse in a storm, the faint light shining in his shattered soul is always visible.
FILM NERD STUFF: A+
The camera as co-author.
There are few films that better exemplify the idea of, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it,” than this one.
How many ways can a camera tell a story? I can’t give you an exact number, but a whole bunch of them are on display here.
The camera glides, guiding our attention toward every important detail. The camera jitters, manifesting the uneasy love that ties this family together. The camera blurs, emphasizing hopelessness and uncertainty.
ONE BIG QUESTION: A
What’s your love language?
Have you ever been on a call where you can hear the other person, but they can’t hear you? It’s frustrating, and makes communication near impossible.
Love can work the same way. One person may be showing their love (let’s say, by showering them with gifts), yet the other person may not feel it (because, let’s say, they need people to tell them they love them through words).
That disconnect is enough to sink a romantic relationship. And it gets even more complicated between parents and children. That is the messy stuff Sentimental Value so eloquently explores.
FINAL COMMENTS:
I’ve held on to the idea for months that Sinners would be my personal movie of the year. I’m not entirely sure now. Check back with me in January.
It’s nearly impossible to imagine any element of this film being done better. The word masterpiece shouldn’t be thrown around lightly, but it certainly applies here.