Many films this year focused on themes of illness, ruin and despair, but Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value is something more radical in these troubled times. It deals with repair, forgiveness and hope.
Focusing on family and memory through the story of two sisters who reunite with their estranged father, the Norwegian family drama emerged as one of 2026's critical darlings. It won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, garnered praise for the central performances from Stellan Skarsgård and Renate Reinsve, and even made Euronews Culture's Best Films of 2025 ranking.
