The following contains spoilers for Sentimental ValueSentimental Value‘s emotional ending gives the somber film a bittersweet but emotional send-off. Expected to be a strong contender at the 98th Academy Awards, Sentimental Value focuses on a famous director who attempts to overcome his estrangement from his daughters by making a new film — and intending to cast his eldest as the star.
It’s a movie quietly about the lingering pain of trauma and the struggles that families face in connecting with each other in the wake of mistakes and loss. By the end of the film, Sentimental Value has made its point subtly and with a human touch, underscoring the themes of the film.
Explanation of Sentimental Value’s Final Film Shoot
Sentimental Value‘s emotional ending focuses on the production of Gustav’s in-universe film, highlighting how opening up to his daughters, in the only way he knows how, has helped improve his relationship with them both. Throughout Sentimental Value, Gustav is hard at work getting his next film produced.
Quietly written about his mother and her decision to take her own life when he was a child, the script is intended specifically for his daughter, Nora. As the film progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that this has been his attempt to bond with his daughter, empathizing with the internal darkness he’s sure she must have to contend with.
When Nora and her sister Agnes finally read the script towards the end of the film, they are both surprised by its vulnerability and empathy. Notably, both women note that he doesn’t know that Nora once attempted suicide. That moment largely reinforces their sisterly bond, but it also finally allows Nora to accept her father and appear in the film.
Throughout the film, Gustav tries incredibly hard to make Rachel Kemp appear similar to Nora and to play the part as he imagines she would. Rachel eventually realizes this and forces him to recognize that the part really isn’t for her to play. That’s ultimately what makes the final scene of the film so emotionally powerful.
Paying off earlier scenes where the ending of Gustav’s movie is discussed, the final scene is a long-shot take of the scene being filmed. Nora is finally playing the lead role, completing Gustav’s vision of how to portray the film. It’s a cathartic moment for Nora and Gustav in the final moments, finally seeing each other on a new level.
Importance of Why Sentimental Value Never Reveals Why Gustav’s Mother Committed Suicide
One of the big mysteries of Sentimental Value is the lingering question as to why Gustav’s mother took her own life when he was a child. The lingering possibilities are present, ranging from the depression that seems to exist in the entire extended family to the lingering trauma Gustav’s mother experienced from being tortured by Nazis during World War II.
Whenever Rachel asks about the motivation behind the act, Gustav responds that he’s not making a movie about his mother. Although it’s clear to most people from the outside that he is, he refuses to see it that way. It’s because, despite the clear impact that the event had on Gustav, he really doesn’t see the movie as about her.
While he’s using the film to explore his own pain and memories, it also becomes clear Gustav is using the event to fuel his efforts to revitalize his family dynamics. He doesn’t just want Nora in the film, but Agnes’s son Erik as well. He wants to use the film to bridge the gap between himself and his loved ones.
This becomes clearest when Gustav and Agnes bicker about Erik potentially being in the movie. Gustav recalls having Agnes appear in his film when she was a child as one of the happiest times of his life, but she responds that it was frustrating it was one of the only times he seemed to be genuinely open with her.
Much of Sentimental Value is quietly about the purpose and power of art. Performance can alleviate someone’s trauma or give them an outlet for their own feelings. For Gustav, that’s the point of his film. It’s not about figuring out exactly why his mother did what she did, but processing it, showcasing it, and letting people bond through it.
The True Meaning of Sentimental Value
The healing power of art and its ability to force people to open up is central to Sentimental Value. For much of the film, Nora is adrift. She’s caught up in an affair with a co-star, she’s having panic attacks right before going on stage, and she acknowledges her own failings with an exhausted acceptance.
Finally reading her father’s script doesn’t just give Nora a chance to connect with him but also underscores her sister’s importance. It forces her to acknowledge her previous attempt to take her own life, something that was earlier implied but never confirmed in the film. By performing in it, Nora is able to unlock her own complicated feelings.
This is why the film ends as it does, with Nora making eye contact with her father while on set during filming, allowing him to make his dream movie openly while quietly sharing a moment of empathy and understanding. It’s what gives Sentimental Value such emotional power and why its bittersweet turn becomes something more optimistic.
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