Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso Filmmaker Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental’ Family Affair
Nov 30, 2025
Joachim Trier, a Norwegian filmmaker known for critically acclaimed works like The Worst Person in the World, dives into his latest project, Sentimental Value. He discusses the emotional dynamics of family in his creative process and the lessons learned from skateboarding. Trier reflects on collaborating with Eskil Vogt, balancing on-set discoveries with prewritten themes, and how being present with actors enriches performances. His exploration of trauma and vulnerability remains a poignant theme, drawing on personal experiences to create authentic narratives.
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Films As Investigations Of Connection
- Joachim Trier says his films probe how people fail to connect and why connection matters.
- He treats filmmaking as a way to explore family dynamics and intergenerational transmission of grief.
Writing Started Around Siblings And Renate
- Trier and Eskil began by asking why siblings raised together turn out so differently.
- They anchored the new film early by writing Nora for Renate Reinsve and building from that trust.
Let The Set Shape The Film
- Balance written themes with collaborative discoveries on set to let the film evolve.
- As a director, steer compromises and use others' input to create something better than your initial plan.
