Elle Fanning tears up as Trier's ‘Sentimental Value’ earns 15-minute ovation at Cannes

Joachim Trier's latest feature, "Sentimental Value", received the most thunderous response at this year's Cannes Film Festival so far, drawing a 15-minute standing ovation well past midnight yesterday. 

The emotionally charged premiere saw Elle Fanning wiping away tears as the crowd erupted in applause for the reunion of Trier and Renate Reinsve, the duo behind "The Worst Person in the World".

The film, a deeply personal family drama with biting commentary on the entertainment industry, stars Fanning as a Hollywood actress swept into the tangled emotional web of a Norwegian family. 
Stellan Skarsgård, who plays a once-great director, blew kisses to the crowd during the ovation, while Trier embraced Fanning onstage, visibly moved by the reception.
Taking the microphone after the applause finally faded, Trier choked up as he addressed the audience. "I'm very moved," he said, acknowledging the long journey it took to bring the film to life. "What's that Buñuel quote? 'I make films for my friends?' I feel you're all my friends tonight."

The film's premiere broke the previous ovation record at this year's festival, surpassing the 11.5-minute reception for Julia Ducournau's "Alpha". That overwhelming enthusiasm has ignited speculation that "Sentimental Value" is now a strong contender for the Palme d'Or.
Trier, who co-wrote the screenplay with long-time collaborator Eskil Vogt, uses the film's meta-structure to take a few playful jabs at the film industry. In one scene, a film is acquired by Netflix, leading to a tense press junket where Skarsgård's character is questioned about a flop from Fanning's character's past. His retort: "Get out."

According to the official synopsis, "Sentimental Value" follows sisters Nora and Agnes as they "reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star. Suddenly, the two sisters must navigate their complicated relationship with their father — and deal with an American star dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics."

Alongside Fanning, Reinsve, and Skarsgård, the ensemble cast includes Cory Michael Smith and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas.
Trier is no stranger to Cannes. He first appeared at the festival in 2011 with "Oslo, August 31st," part of the Un Certain Regard section. He returned in 2015 with "Louder Than Bombs", starring Jesse Eisenberg and Isabelle Huppert, and again in 2021 with "The Worst Person in the World", which earned Reinsve the Best Actress prize and went on to score Oscar nominations for Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay.

With its raw emotion, clever industry satire, and powerfully delivered performances, "Sentimental Value" has quickly emerged as the film to beat this year — and a poignant reminder of Trier's singular voice in modern cinema.