Joachim Trier’s family drama Sentimental Value took home the Oscar for Best International Film at the 98th Academy Awards, capping a run that included nine nominations and renewed attention for European cinema. The win matters: it marks a major prize for Norway and spotlights a quietly powerful film about art, family and memory.
What happened — the core news
Sentimental Value won the Academy Award for Best International Film after receiving nine nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. The movie’s cast — led by Renate Reinsve and featuring Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning — earned multiple acting nods, with Skarsgård and Lilleaas among the nominees in supporting categories.
About the film
Trier’s film is a layered family saga that follows an estranged director father trying to reconnect with his daughters by turning his life into a final, personal film. It moves across decades inside a single, memory-soaked house, probing grief, artistic ambition and the ethics of mining personal history for art. Critics have compared its emotional sweep to European greats, praising Trier’s blend of intensity, occasional playfulness and actor-driven storytelling.
Why this win matters now
This is Norway’s first Oscar in the Best International Film category, a milestone for the country’s cinema. The victory also reinforces the growing appetite for adult, character-driven non-English films at the Academy and cements Trier’s status after his widely praised earlier work.
Industry reaction and distribution buzz
Distributor Neon, which has built a reputation on breakout international hits since Parasite, pushed Sentimental Value heavily during the run-up to the ceremony. On the eve of the Oscars, Neon touted a slate of non-English projects and box-office milestones that underscore how European films can break through during awards season.
Critical and audience response
Reviews emphasized the film’s performances and the haunting central setting — an old wood-paneled house that links family secrets and historical moments. Many critics argued the film’s emotional core and multi-generational scope made it a Best Picture-caliber work, even alongside higher-concept competitors.
What’s next
Expect renewed festival and theatrical interest for Sentimental Value, and continued promotion from Neon as the film expands its audience post-Oscars. For viewers, the win makes Sentimental Value an awards-season must-see and a key example of how intimate stories can resonate on the biggest stage.