"Sentimental Value"

In January the Facets Film Forum gives us a theatrical chance to catch "Sentimental Value", the winner of the Grand Prix prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and Norway's submission for Best Foreign Film for this year's Academy Awards. Directed by Joachim Trier ("Worst Person In The World"), it's a drama about two sisters and their prickly relationship with their distant father, a well-regarded director faded from the limelight who's found a story through which to stage a popular comeback. The film touches on many themes (honesty in performance, family connection through artistic expression, and family drama comparing to that of fellow Scandinavian director Ingmar Bergman), anchored by a great use of the family house as a focus on history large and small, and on superb performances from the cast including Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard, and Elle Fanning.

Afterwards we'll head east to the nearby Warehouse Pizzeria on 1419 W. Fullerton to talk over what the film's exploring, how it shows this exploration, and how it compares with the films of 2025 and Trier's other work like "Worst Person" and "Oslo, 31 August". Tickets are $14 and you can pick them up at: https://facets.org/programs/sentimental-value/