Stepping onto the red carpet at the 2025 New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center, I had the opportunity to interview the cast and several members of the creative team behind this year’s Sentimental Value, a film by Joachim Trier.
I began with Joachim himself and his longtime collaborator and co-writer, Eskil Vogt. The two reflected on their creative journey together — two short films and four feature-length features, all critically acclaimed.
“I think there’s something about knowing each other so well that we can really dive into thematics that we’re pondering in a very honest way,” Joachim mused. “We know each other so well that we dare to be very, very private and intimate, and also ambitious about our ideas, because we’re not afraid to make fools of ourselves — we know each other so well,” Eskil added.
Renate Reinsve, who plays the lead role, spoke about her relationship with the director: “There’s so much trust now, and we know each other so well that we almost don’t have to talk. It’s a very wordless collaboration.”
This chemistry was evident in the way the film is crafted. The writers’ and cast’s synergy is palpable, and their shared Norwegian roots lend a sense of cohesion to the film’s direction — especially since many of them have worked together before. The formulation of deeply layered characters reveals years of mutual understanding and collaboration.
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This is most apparent in the juxtaposition between Renate Reinsve’s character, Nora, and Elle Fanning’s character, Rachel. Rachel is an outsider in the story, mirroring Elle’s own distinction from the rest of the Norwegian cast, among whom she is the only American. Speaking on this, Elle shared, “I think there was a really delicate tightrope that had to be walked with this particular character, because she’s coming in as the outsider. Playing a Hollywood actress, there are clichés you could fall into — the bratty Hollywood star or the comedic relief — but she really grows to be a character that’s so much more.”
As the evening at Lincoln Center drew to a close, it was clear that Sentimental Value is not only a reflection of deep creative trust but also a testament to the emotional resonance that emerges when artists grow together over time.
