Sentimental Value

 It’s a good year for Neon.

The film distributor, that is.

This past March, Anora got them their second Oscar for Best Picture. Next March, they might also get their second Oscar for Best International Feature. Not only that, but they might have the whole category to themselves. Yes, of the fifteen films shortlisted, five of them are distributed by Neon.

Let’s start with Norway’s Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier’s follow-up to his also Oscar-nominated The Worst Person in the World. Let’s see what he and his usual co-writer, Erisk Vogt, have this time.

Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård) is one of Norway’s most renowned directors, even if he’s well past his prime. He drops by his ex-wife’s funeral to reconnect with their daughters - Nora (Renate Reinsve), an actress, and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), a historian. It’s a matter of literal family business, for Gustav has written a role for Nora in his next movie. It’s based on her grandmother, who hanged herself when Gustav was seven, and it will be filmed at their house - where she actually died. Nora flatly says no.

Gustav meets Hollywood starlet Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) at a film festival, and casts her in the role. This gets Netflix interested, but it also does little for his familial relationships. Agnes is particularly incensed when her son, Erik (Øyvind Hesjedal Loven), is cast as his grandpa. Nora, meanwhile, suffers from crippling anxiety. This film might give everyone a chance to mend their relationships. 

And for 133-minutes, you’ll be invested in their cinematic therapy. Nora and Rachel have every right to rebuff Gustav, given their personal history. And yet, Skarsgård’s performance makes it impossible to hate him. He’s a doting, yet unconventional grandfather; an absent father; a brilliant filmmaker; and a cantankerous old man. Above all else, he’s still a pretty good man, even if he has trouble showing it. I especially find it appealing how happy he is in teaching his craft to the next generation. Again, who can hate him?

Now, let’s talk about those daughters. Nora’s first scene has her paralyzed with stage fright during her latest play. One can relate to her jitters - I do - as her bout lasts for seemingly forever. The wait is worth it once she gets on stage. Off-stage, her affair with co-star Jakob (Anders Danielsen Lie) gives her little comfort. Agnes, who once starred in one of Gustav’s films, gets her best scene when she calls out Gustav for his flaws. She also resolves her family’s fractured relationships when she studies her grandma and her problems. Yeah, quite convenient, but you’ll have to see it in context.

It's especially impossible to hate Rachel. She pretty much enjoys filmmaking and is eager to learn more from an old pro like Gustav. In fact, she seeks him out after she watches Agnes's old movie at a festival. She’s spectacular when she acts out her movie-within-a-movie’s climactic monologue, but she’s even better when she realizes she’s not right for the part. You will believe every bit of effort she puts into her part; it’s not for lack of trying. Overall, Fanning’s performance is invaluable for this ensemble.

Speaking of invaluable, let's bring in cinematographer Kasper Tuxen, who was just shortlisted for the Oscar. Modern family dramas aren't usually considered here, but it makes sense once you tour the Borgs’ home. We’re greeted with a huge crack in the wall early on, then watch it get renovated in the finale (can you say, metaphor?). Nora’s minimalist theatre company gives us an interesting bait-and-switch moment midway through. If there was a Production Design shortlist, Jørgen Stangebye Larsen would be on it. A little later, as Gustav teaches Erik cinematography, Gustav “spears” himself with a toy shovel in a dazzling moment of visual trickery. You’ll wonder how they did that. 

Yes, while I expect Neon to dominate the International Feature Category, I have my eye on a few other candidates (Japan's Kokuho, for example). I'll gradually get to as much of them as I can in the coming weeks. For now, I leave Sentimental Value with a confident recommendation. It's readily available to stream just about anywhere but Netflix - I picked Amazon, as usual. So, check it out, and prepare to immerse yourself in a family drama with an almost nonexistent language barrier. I think I said enough.