Podcast Summary: All Of It – Renate Reinsve on Her 9-Times Oscar Nominated Film 'Sentimental Value'

Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Renate Reinsve
Date: March 6, 2026
Episode Theme: Culture, film, and the personal and creative forces behind the 9-time Oscar-nominated film "Sentimental Value"

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation between host Alison Stewart and Renate Reinsve, Best Actress nominee, about the acclaimed film "Sentimental Value." The discussion explores the film’s complex portrayal of family dynamics, artistic creation, and intergenerational conflict. Reinsve provides personal insights into her character, Nora, the rehearsal process with director Joachim Trier, and her collaboration with the legendary Stellan Skarsgård. The episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a celebrated international film and illuminates the emotional depth of its characters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Family House as a Character

[03:50]

• The house is described as “kind of its own character.” Renate explains how it embodies the passage of time, family history, and unresolved emotions.
  • "The house in the movie is kind of its own character. It really sets the framework of the whole movie, that house." — Renate Reinsve
• To her character Nora, the house is a source of discomfort and estrangement due to a troubled upbringing under a famous but emotionally absent father.
  • "She really didn’t have a good time. They grew up in a very aggressive home. And also her father, being a director, … he wasn’t really present."

2. Nora’s Character and Emotional Complexity

[05:57]

• The film opens with Nora in a moment of crisis, reflecting her struggle to be present in her own life — on stage, she can channel her emotions, but in real life, she’s overwhelmed.
  • "She is struggling to be present in her life, but on stage, she can really go into what she’s carrying. She carries a lot of emotional weight from coming from that childhood in that house."
    [06:19]
• Playing the panic scene was both intense and comedic for Reinsve; she sees relatable humor in panicking over uncomfortable situations.
  • "I think it’s a comedic scene because I think it’s very relatable … so uncomfortable that you panic and you, you don’t want to go there … that to me has a lot of comedy to it."

3. Acting as a Way to Connect

[08:41]

• Nora’s motivation for acting is partly subconscious: a desire to be close to her father, who can only truly connect while directing.
  • "She wants to be part of her father's life... subconsciously she goes into acting because it might be a way to be close to him."

4. Relationships with Gustav and Agnes

[09:32]

• The dynamic between Nora, her sister Agnes, and their father is explored. Agnes experienced being “seen” by their father when she was cast in his film as a child, but the affection was transient.
  • "It was such a big grief because she had never felt so seen... but when production stopped, it was back to normal."

5. Stellan Skarsgård’s Portrayal of Gustav

[10:08]

• Skarsgård was cast for his warmth and complexity to offset a “mean” character on the page.
  • "Stellan is so beautiful in the character and gives so much dynamic and gentleness to that character."
• Despite brutal lines, Gustav is portrayed with clumsy kindness—he believes himself good, but fails in fatherhood.
  • "He just doesn’t know how to be good with his daughters. And you see him being a lot better version of himself with his actress."
    [12:22]
• Gustav's projection onto Rachel (Elle Fanning's character), including her altering her appearance, underscores his complex relationship with his daughters.
  • "He kind of tries to shape Rachel into his daughter. That is very funny and very sad."

6. Language and Authenticity

[13:22]

• The film mixes English and Norwegian. For Reinsve, performing in English introduces a sense of estrangement into the role that enriches her performance.
  • "You get a different sense of depth when you speak in your own language. But I could always be myself, just struggling a bit with the words."

7. Working with Joachim Trier

[14:39]

• Trier is lauded as a gifted storyteller and collaborative leader, creating a safe, artistically rich environment where actors and crew feel invested.
  • "He’s so wise and intelligent in the way he structures his movies... a pool of just artistic joy working with him."
• The set culture encourages exploration while maintaining structure.
  • "Because it’s so structured, we can be really flexible with improvising. The whole room is improvising together."

8. Exploring Mental Health Themes

[16:48]

• Nora avoids therapy out of fear—exploring one’s trauma might cause her to unravel.
  • "She’s really scared of what she’ll find. ...if I dig into it just a little bit... it might just all fall apart."
• Her sister is her anchor, but the fear of vulnerability is powerful and relatable.

9. Unique Rehearsal Process

[17:58]

• Trier’s rehearsal process involves real problem-solving and personalization—the script is shaped by actors’ real dynamics and emotional truths.
  • "We share a lot of personal things in the room... he films the rehearsals so that he can alter the script."
• This method gives the cast deep ownership and contributes to the film’s authenticity.

10. The Film’s Emotional Range: Sadness and Hope

[19:35]

• The tone balances sadness with hope—the conclusion is layered and not pat, making the hope found at the end more moving.
  • "There is so much hope in the complexity of how it ends and how those relationships are seen in the end."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the house as a metaphor:
  • “The house is kind of its own character … the walls in the house really holds information about all these families … and sets the framework of the whole movie.” – Renate Reinsve (03:50)
• On acting and parental connection:
  • "I think one of the things she doesn't know is that she wants to be a part of her father's life. …subconsciously she goes into acting because it might be a way to be close to him." – Renate Reinsve (08:41)
• On Stellan Skarsgård’s performance:
  • "He is so beautiful in the character and gives so much dynamic and gentleness to that character." – Renate Reinsve (10:14)
  • "He plays someone who really thinks he is a good person … but he's so clumsy, and he just doesn't know how to be good with his daughters." – Renate Reinsve (11:16)
• On working with Joachim Trier:
  • "He’s so wise and intelligent in the way he structures his movies... The crew and the cast members are really like integrated and we feel like a collective." – Renate Reinsve (14:39)
• On mental health representation:
  • "She's really scared of what she'll find … if I dig into it just a little bit … it might just all fall apart." – Renate Reinsve (16:59)
• On hope in the film:
  • "There is so much hope in the complexity of how it ends and how those relationships are seen in the end." – Renate Reinsve (19:44)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:50 – The significance of the family house in the film
• 05:57 – Nora’s emotional state and panic scene
• 08:41 – Nora’s motivation for becoming an actress
• 10:08 – The character of Gustav and Stellan Skarsgård’s performance
• 13:22 – Bilingual script and performing in two languages
• 14:39 – Renate on Joachim Trier’s artistic and leadership style
• 16:48 – Nora’s avoidance of therapy and mental health
• 17:58 – Trier’s collaborative rehearsal process
• 19:35 – The tone of hope in the film’s conclusion

Overall Tone and Takeaways

• The episode is thoughtful, personal, and warm, reflecting on family wounds, artistry, and healing.
• Renate Reinsve’s insights into her character and her creative processes echo the film’s nuanced portrayal of complex relationships.
• Listeners come away with a deeper understanding of "Sentimental Value," both as an emotionally resonant film and as a testament to the collaborative power of cinema.