Family Ties and Haunted Memories Collide in Sentimental Value

Sentimental Value is more than a story about relatives—it 's a portrait of a home that holds generations of secrets. In Joachim Trier’s latest film, the Borg family ’s Oslo residence is as much a character as any of its inhabitants. The house, passed down through decades marked by war, loss, and hardship, stands as a silent witness to the family’s unraveling. At the heart of the story are sisters Nora, a stage actress, and Agnes, a historian, who have grown distant from their father, Gustav Borg, a celebrated filmmaker. After years abroad and a painful divorce, Gustav reappears at his ex-wife’s funeral with two goals: reclaim the family home and offer Nora a role in his new project.

Estrangement and Artistic Ambition

Gustav’s latest film draws directly from his own family’s history, set to be shot in the very house where he grew up and culminating in the tragic end of his mother ’s life. He pens the lead role for Nora, but she refuses to participate, unwilling to revisit old wounds. Undeterred, Gustav turns to Hollywood star Rachel Kemp, whose career is also at a crossroads. Rachel’s involvement secures Netflix funding, breathing new life into Gustav’s stalled career, which hasn’t seen a new film in fifteen years. Rachel, too, is searching for direction after her last movie flopped, and she finds unexpected kinship with Gustav.

“Gustav sees something in [Rachel] that ignites this light in her again,”

Elle Fanning, who plays Rachel, explains.

“She’s felt a bit lost, and so having him see her, and feel like he really sees her, and then to ultimately give her this opportunity, it’s a beautiful thing. And I think he’s much more open to Rachel than he is with his own daughters.”

Clashing Generations and Awkward Connections

Gustav’s struggle to connect with his family is both touching and awkward. Stellan Skarsgård, who portrays Gustav, notes,

“He is capable of feelings, and he’s capable of expressing feelings. He’s excellent at it in his art, but he’s clumsy in his personal life, and it’s funny to see him trying. It’s comic, and it’s tragic at the same time. It’s very funny, but you also feel that he really wants to do it, but he can’t, and that’s the key to him.”

This dynamic comes to life in a scene where Gustav gifts his nine-year-old grandson a DVD of Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher, only for Agnes to point out,

“We don’t even have a DVD player.”

The moment highlights Gustav’s disconnect not just from his family, but from the changing world around him.

Art Imitates Life

Gustav’s old-school mindset is further exposed during a press junket, when he’s asked if his film will be shown in theaters.

“Of course, where else would it be shown?”

he replies, oblivious to the reality of streaming platforms like Netflix. The film blurs the line between fiction and reality, as Fanning herself was an American actor working on a Norwegian set, much like her character.

“There were aspects and scenes that I could understand very, very well, and were happening in real time around me. So you can’t help but acknowledge and take that in,”

she shares. Fanning worked to avoid turning Rachel into a stereotype, instead revealing her complexity and vulnerability.

Haunted by the Past

The Borg home, steeped in history and pain, becomes a symbol of unresolved trauma. Rachel, an outsider, finds herself caught in the family’s emotional crossfire, unable to fully grasp the depth of their wounds. Yet, her presence is crucial in helping the family confront their ghosts. Trier’s attention to detail extended to casting the perfect house for the film, with Fanning recalling,

“For me, it felt like a very special space. ”

Sentimental Value is now playing in theaters across the UK.