Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value’ Gets 15-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes Premiere

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Filmmaker Joachim Trier of Norway brings “Sentimental Value” to Cannes once more, as this film premiered on Wednesday evening within the Competition segment of the festival.

Trier, along with his team consisting of Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle Fanning, made their way up the renowned stairs of Palais des Festivals.

The movie represents Lars von Trier’s sequel to “The Unkindest Person“, which debuted in Competition at Cannes in 2023, catapulting actress Renate Reinsve into the international spotlight and earning her the festival’s best actress award. “Unkindest Person” was a success both critically and commercially, being nominated for two Oscars; one for best international feature film and another for best original screenplay, which Lars von Trier shared with Eskil Vogt.

The film drama, titled Sentimental Value, revolves around the strained bond between Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård) and his daughters, Nora (Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas). As a means to mend their relationship, Gustav, a film director, proposes that Nora, an actress, take on the part of a young mother in his upcoming movie, which bears striking resemblance to the heart-wrenching tale of his own mom. However, when she refuses, Gustav casts Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) instead. As they gear up for filming at their family home, long-forgotten hurts and lingering resentments resurface.

I was utterly captivated by Trier’s “Sentimental Value” at Cannes, offering an extraordinary 15-minute standing ovation that resonated with thunderous applause and emotional intensity. The affection for the cast was widespread, but the enthusiasm was particularly fervent for Reinsve and Skarsgård. However, it was Lilleaas’s performance as Angnes that truly stole the show, potentially marking her as a rising star on the international stage.

At the Cannes competition screening on Wednesday, the crowd leaped to their feet as soon as the lights came up. The audience, visibly touched, persisted in clapping, hollering, and cheering even as director Trier and his cast, maintaining a modest Scandinavian demeanor, seemed uncomfortable by the applause.

Trier’s new film, which earned Reinsve the Best Actress award in Cannes four years ago, is a heartfelt production. The plot revolves around a family dealing with their connection issues, resembling the works of Ingmar Bergman, Henrik Ibsen, and Anton Chekhov in its poignant, yet unsentimental portrayal of the power of memory, the agony of loss, and the therapeutic effects of art.

Quoting Adrian Brunel, Trier stated, “This is a line from Bunuel: ‘I make films for my family.’ Now, I truly feel that each one of you has become my family.

Last year, Neon secured U.S. distribution rights for the movie titled “Sentimental Value” from the Cannes film market. More recently, Mubi has acquired the film’s rights for various regions such as the United Kingdom and Latin America. Mk2 Films is responsible for managing international sales of the movie.

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2025-05-22 02:54