Unveiling the Sentimental Value of Home: A Cinematic Exploration
It is among the protagonists of the film season, already loaded with awards at Cannes (Grand Jury Prize), at the EFA, nominated for 8 Golden Globes and in the running for the Oscar for best international film: it is Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier, a family drama in which the Norwegian director returns to direct Renate Reinsve, winner at Cannes for her performance in The Worst Person in the World, thus continuing a creative relationship already rewarded by international critics. Alongside her are Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaascon.
In the story in which Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes Borg (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), two deeply united sisters, find themselves reopening wounds that have never completely healed with their unreliable, charismatic and charming director father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgard) suddenly returning, the house has a fundamental, sentimental and emotional role. The house, which outwardly resembles that of Pippi Longstocking, is one of the protagonists of the film: it is more than a presence, it is a character pervaded by a feeling of wild and profound in the midst of something more mannered and polite.
The Role of the House in Sentimental Value
Writer and director Joachim Trier and production designer Jørgen Stangebye Larsen, together with set decorator Catrine Gormsen, have created a house that transforms over the decades. The story in fact crosses generations and different times, following a father and daughter in the search for a shared meaning. In this path, objects take on a central role and the family home stops being a simple background to become a living presence.
As happens in many families, even for the Borg family parts of the past have been lost between absences, silences and misunderstandings. It is then that objects become repositories of memory: memories, emotions and personal versions of the truth are stratified on them. The house, with its cracks and imperfections left by time, retains traces of a long and complex history, even preceding those who live there today.
Creating a Home with Sentimental Value
Because a house is never just a house. Each object carries with it the weight of memory, pain, love and enormous sentimental value. On the occasion of the release of the film Sentimental Value in Italy, JYSK has selected furnishings and accessories that express the Scandinavian Touch in the language of interiors. In design the “Scandinavian touch” can indicate the integration of elements of the hygge philosophy into the domestic environment, as well represented in the contemporary furnishings of the house in the film: a natural minimalism made of warm materials, natural light and tidy spaces to reduce stress and improve psychological well-being through the surrounding environment.
There are few things in life more important than the relationships and memories we build with the people we love. It is precisely through these bonds that a house stops being just a space and truly becomes a home. Beyond style or trends, adding sentimental value to environments means making them authentic and deeply personal, without giving up a coherent aesthetic vision. Integrating the design with elements that tell of relationships, experiences and memories allows you to create special spaces, capable of speaking about those who live there.
Photographs of loved ones, inserted in carefully designed frames, and family or travel heirlooms – linked to anniversaries, graduations or significant moments – add a level of intimacy and make the passing of these objects to future generations natural. It’s essential to surround yourself with visible reminders of what really matters. Personalized works of art, objects of the heart or small collections full of meaning, integrated into the furnishings, help to keep the connection with one’s values and affections alive.
Sentimental value does not only pass through objects and images, but also through spaces that encourage sharing. A welcoming corner dedicated to reading or relaxing, enriched with pillows, blankets and special books, becomes a place where you can create new memories together. Finally, the plants and vases with flowers bring beauty, color and a scent capable of evoking emotions and memories. With their delicate presence, they help create an intimate and nostalgic atmosphere, completing the home with a touch of everyday poetry. For more information on creating a home with sentimental value, visit Here