Families aren’t always harmonious, as we tend to be reminded of every year at Christmas, which makes the Boxing Day release of Sentimental Value appropriate.  It’ll be humorous to some and cathartic to others.  The film also arrives with big wraps having won the runner-up prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, earned Norway’s submission for best international feature film at the Oscars, and featured on a glut of critics’ top 10 lists (including my own).

Directed and co-written by Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World), his new outing deals with forgiveness and legacy.  Gustav Borg (Skarsgård) is an acclaimed filmmaker who has, for the most part, put work ahead of family.  He seems happy with that decision.  He’s a “career man” who, driven by a mix of art and ego, has always wanted to leave a small mark on the world.  Critics say his best years are behind him, but he still travels the world, attends retrospectives of his works, and speaks openly at audience Q&A sessions.

His highly touted professional reputation does not align with his personal one in that he’s semi-estranged from his two grown daughters, Nora (Reinsve) and Agnes (Lilleaas).  The older they’ve become, the more they’ve realised dad wasn’t there for them growing up.  Gustav would prioritise his filmmaking, and when you throw in a lengthy stint of alcoholism, it’s no surprise the two women have built a world independent of his influence.  Nora is the most resentful of the pair.

Their separation is about to end with the 70-something-year-old Gustav wanting to make one last “great” movie and in the process, reconcile with Nora by casting her in the lead role.  From our perspective as the audience, they’re intriguing characters to study.  What is driving Gustav?  Is he only doing this because he’s a washed-up director looking to use his daughter to heighten his legacy?  Or is trying to make good after decades of neglect and set her up for an acting career?  How should the cynical Nora react?  After decades of drama, which have resulted in phobias and distress, can she fully put that side and trust her dad?  Does he deserve forgiveness?

Sentimental Value is absorbing from start to finish.  It opens with a poetic, reflective monologue where Nora, as a child, describes what it would be like if a physical house had feelings.  We are then treated to four outstanding central performances.  They’re all messed up, to varying extents, and are skilly played by Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning.  I haven’t mentioned Fanning yet but she’s sensational as an intelligent Hollywood starlet being courted by Gustav for his new movie.  Loved the nuance she brings to the role!

With lovely flourishes of humour (e.g. a Netflix reference, Gustav lying to Elle about the screenplay’s origins), Sentimental Value is one of the year’s best releases.  I’m not sure what’s in the water in Scandinavia but their ability to deliver wonderful cinema year-after-year is something to be proud of.