BAD DADS

"Sentimental Value," "Jay Kelly."

- JUSTIN CHANG

When I first learned about the Norwegian director Joachim Trier’s new picture, during a press conference for this year’s Cannes Film Festival, I could have sworn I heard the title, “Affeksjonsverdi,” translated into English as “Sentimental Valium.” It’s actually “Sentimental Value,” which certainly makes more sense, although, now that I’ve seen the movie, the unintended pun seems closer to the truth. Trier’s work often throws off a hyper-caffeinated energy; “Reprise” (2006) and “The Worst Person in the World” (2021), both portraits of early adulthood, are as winningly mercurial as their protagonists. His latest movie skews older, and it feels zonked out by comparison. Scene by scene, it’s impeccably crafted, flawlessly acted, and emotionally anesthetized. Trier can do restraint beautifully—“Oslo, August 31st” (2012) is an addiction tale of shattering stillness—but “Sentimental Value,” which he wrote with Eskil Vogt, mistakes whispery sedateness for maturity. It sets up understatedly fraught situations, plants meaningful glances and allusive ambiguities everywhere, and assumes our tears will trickle forth.