The 78th edition of Cannes Film Festival is underway with several films from worldwide being screened at the prestigious event. On May 21, filmmaker Joachim Trier's new film Sentimental Value had its world premiere at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, and received a wonderful reaction from the audience at the event. It was played in this year's competition lineup.
The film's ending was met with overwhelming applause, and reportedly, earned a thunderous 19-minute standing ovation, the longest ovation at the festival this year. It exceeded the 11.5-minute standing ovation for Julia Ducournau's Alpha which was recently screened at Cannes 2025.
Starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value is the follow-up to 2021 film, The Worst Person in the World.
Elle Fanning, reportedly, wiped away tears and embraced Trier as the Cannes audience lauded her performance.
Emotional Trier said he was “very moved” and many in the film had “struggled for years” to make it. “What’s that Buñuel quote? ‘I make films for my friends’? I feel you’re all my friends tonight," he added.
As per reports, Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 fantasy drama Pan’s Labyrinth holds the record for the longest standing ovation at Cannes, with 22 minutes.
About Sentimental Value
As per the film synopsis, Sentimental Value follows sisters Nora (Reinsve) and Agnes' (Lilleaas) reunion with their estranged father, Gustav (Skarsgård), who was a renowned director once upon a time. He offers Nora a role, hoping the film will be his comeback. “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.”
The script is written by Trier with Eskil Vogt. Trier's debut in Cannes was in 2011 with his film, Oslo, August 31st, which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section. In 2015, his Louder Than Bombs, competed for the Palme d’Or, followed by The Worst Person in the World, with Renate Reinsve winning the best actress award. The film also received Oscar nominations for best international feature and screenplay, at the 94th Academy Awards.
