Sentimental Value

*she is formerly known as the Worst Person in the World

Movie: Sentimental Value

Running Time: 2:13

Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Leading Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress Twice, Editing, International Feature, Original Screenplay

How I watched: Prime

When it had me: Renate Reinsve

When it lost me: I got sleepy briefly in the middle

What systems does it challenge: The only thing it might challenge is avoidance of therapy?

Sentimental Value is a family drama of both tiny moments and epic emotions. This is such a unique piece of writing. The way the story bounces around from character to character and from era to era is organic and unpredictable. It's like a piece of music, changing tempo and rhythm as it goes.

My only quibble with the editing is repeated cuts to black between scenes, even very short vignettes sometimes. It felt a little choppy to me but I tried to embrace each one as a breath.

The acting is terrific. With four acting nominations from one film, it makes me wonder how it didn't get nominated for casting. It seems like they did something right! 

Sadness becomes its own character and we follow it on its wavering path through generations of this family. The question becomes how can a father and daughter who are so far apart and need so much from each other bridge the gap? It seems so real; a divide that maybe we have all seen in our own families. Something so simple and yet seemingly impossible to solve.

Beautiful film making!