A.K.A. Affeksjonsverdi. Cool word.
Every other year, I make an effort to watch all the Best Picture nominees before Oscar night. I wasn't initially planning on doing that this time, but then I thought that it might make for a fun little assignment within this larger project. So I've decided to go for it.
And I'm glad that I did. Sentimental Value is a melodrama that easily lives up to its wistful and evocative title; the kind where you see it and immediately understand why every actor involved got a nomination (Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård are both as powerful as advertised, but I think Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas is the true scene-stealer here; every time she showed up on screen, I felt like I was looking directly into her soul), not just because their deliveries are so emotional and resonant, but also because of how much is expressed non-verbally. You can always see the pain and sadness in these character's eyes, and it's consistently heartbreaking.
But the movie's strengths don't just lie in its performances. Joachim Trier's direction is delicate and understated, the editing cleverly punctuates the drama by cutting to black after every segment, and I think the house is just a great symbol of this family's histories and traumas. It's all very affecting and personal stuff, with undercurrents of humour and catharsis that keep things from getting too grim or overbearing.
Grade: A
P.S. What do we think Gustav's gonna get Erik for his next birthday? My money's on Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom.
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