Sentimental Value at Cannes Film Festival 2025: The Surprise Hit Everyone Is Talking About
Read Time:4 Minute, 4 Second
There’s always that one film at the Cannes Film Festival that comes out of nowhere and steals the spotlight. In 2025, that film is undoubtedly Sentimental Value, directed by Norwegian auteur Joachim Trier. With a record-breaking 15-minute standing ovation, the emotional drama has surged ahead as the most talked-about contender for this year’s Palme d’Or.
A Powerful Return to Cannes
Trier, known for his breakout The Worst Person in the World, returns to Cannes with a story that resonates deeply across generations. Sentimental Value is a heartfelt exploration of family, regret, and reconciliation—told through the lens of a once-famous filmmaker trying to reconnect with his daughters.
The film stars Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning, and Renate Reinsve, and is already being hailed as Trier’s most mature and emotionally layered work yet. It might have been one of the final entries in the competition, but it’s quickly become the emotional centerpiece of the festival.
Inside the Story: Art, Family, and Fragile Bonds
Set inside a picturesque historic home in Oslo, the film follows Gustav Borg (Skarsgård), an aging filmmaker who attempts to mend his strained relationship with his daughter Nora (Reinsve) by writing her a film script. Nora, now a rising actress, isn’t interested. In a twist, the script ends up in the hands of Rachel Kemp (Fanning), a young Hollywood star who finds unexpected connection in Gustav’s work.
But beneath the surface, Sentimental Value is really about the things families leave unsaid—how we often struggle to communicate directly, and how art becomes the language we use to heal. Co-written with Trier’s longtime collaborator Eskil Vogt, the script mixes dry wit, cinematic meta-commentary, and deeply emotional moments in a way that feels effortlessly authentic.
“Tenderness Is the New Punk”
At the press conference, Trier reflected on the emotional weight of the film: “We’re living in a world that’s overwhelmed with anger and division. This film is about the need to reconnect, to speak, and to forgive.”
Eskil Vogt added, “Families often talk around issues rather than about them. That’s where art steps in—it gives us another way to say what we really feel.”
This raw vulnerability is what makes Sentimental Value so gripping. It isn’t flashy or overly dramatic—it’s honest. And that honesty is what’s getting under the skin of festivalgoers and critics alike.
Cannes Applause: A Predictor of Global Success?
The film’s thunderous 15-minute ovation has drawn comparisons to Parasite, Titane, and Anora—all of which went on to win big at Cannes and beyond. With Juliette Binoche heading the 2025 Cannes jury, and Neon already securing U.S. distribution rights, Sentimental Value seems poised to make a strong run through awards season.
And let’s not forget: Neon has a golden touch, having previously distributed Oscar-winners like Parasite and Anatomy of a Fall. If history is any guide, Sentimental Value could be on a similar path.
Elle Fanning, Pop Culture, and Gen Z Appeal
At the Cannes press event, Elle Fanning wore a shirt that read “Joachim Trier Summer,” referencing a viral moment from Charli XCX’s Coachella set, where the director was name-dropped as part of 2025’s cultural moment.
This intersection of pop culture and auteur cinema signals something important: Trier is connecting with younger audiences. His ability to translate emotional complexity into something digestible and relatable is helping redefine what modern drama can look like.
Fanning herself praised Trier as a dream director, saying he was always on her “bucket list,” and fans of his previous work will notice that Sentimental Value expands on the generational themes seen in The Worst Person in the World—only this time, with added maturity and gravitas.
Even If It Doesn’t Win, It Already Matters
Whether or not Sentimental Value takes home the Palme d’Or this Saturday, its impact is already undeniable. The Cannes Film Festival has long served as a launchpad for global success, and inclusion alone often signals that a film will have a strong awards season presence.
More importantly, Sentimental Value taps into something audiences are craving in 2025: a return to sincerity. In a time of social tension, media noise, and polarized narratives, Trier’s quiet, emotional storytelling feels radical.
Final Thoughts: This Year’s Most Emotionally Resonant Film
Sentimental Value isn’t just a great film—it’s a necessary one. It reminds us that healing is possible, that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and that art can bridge even the deepest emotional divides.
So if you’re only going to see one Cannes film this year, make it this one. You’ll walk away thinking not just about cinema, but about your own relationships—and how art, love, and honesty can bring people back together.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
Average Rating