Sentimental Value

Affeksjonsverdi

Does this film illustrate multigenerational transmission, perspective? Do the images of Nora and Gustav dissolving into one another at 1:38 address differentiation?

Narrator: "... Her great great grandfather died..." (0:03)

Actress Nora Borg tells two associates, "... I can’t go on stage." (0:06)

Nora tells her lover and theater colleague, "Just a bit stressed..." 
”... hit me. Just slap me.” 
Jakob slaps her face. (0:08)

At a wake for their mother Sissel, Nora’s sister Agnes tells Nora, "This is just stressful." (0:13)

A mourner tells Nora, "Your mom was so proud of you..." (0:13)

Gustav tells Nora, "... I’ve been worried." 
Nora: ”... You’re always drunk.” 
Gustav: ”But I worry about you.” 
Nora: ”... worry about me.” (0:20)

Actor Rachel Kemp tells Gustav, "Sam would freak out..." (0:32)

Nora tells Jakob, "... you’re married..." 
Referring to the manager: ”... He thinks I should see a therapist.” 
Jakob: ”... some sort of phobia. Therapy might help. ” 
Nora: ”... I don’t need therapy.” 
Referring to her mother: ”... she was a therapist." (0:34)

Nora runs through a cemetery. (0:36)

Nora tells Agnes, "... it’s so counterintuitive...” 
Agnes: ”But it’s not all anxiety?” (0:36)

Nora: “... what she hates about herself.” (0:37)

Rachel asks Gustav, referring to Sissel’s suicide, "This is where she does it." (0:49)

Gustav tells Agnes, "... my mom used to hang herself." (0:50)

Sissel is psychotherapy session with a patient (0:51)

Narrator: “... the therapist’s office was called...” (0:51)

Narrator: "When Edith died... a patient with insomnia..." 
Gustav on television show, referring to Sissel: ”... I found out she was a therapist, so I got some mental problems.” 
Narrator: ”After the divorce, Gustav returned to Sweden.” (0:54)

Rachel answers the interviewer, "I’m very proud of that film..." 
Interviewer: ”Were you nervous...?” 
Gustav, referring to the interviewer: ”What a goddamn idiot.” (0:57)

Agnes’ son Erik opens a present of DVDs: The Piano Teacher, Irréversible (1:04)

Gustave: "... It erodes your self-confidence..." 
”... someone who is so full of rage..” (1:05)

By telephone, Gustav tells Nora, "... I’m sensitive..." (1:14)

Rachel: "I had this kind of crisis..." (1:17)

Rachel asks Gustav, "... why she decides to kill herself." 
”I get that she’s depressed...” (1:20)

Agnes reads descriptions of torture, some related to her grandmother. (1:24)

Narrator: "... the police report on her suicide..." (1:25)

Gustav tells Agnes, "... You were also a bit shy..." (1:27)

Gustav tells Rachel, "You seem a little distracted." (1:29)

Nora leaves a message: "... I’ve often gone on stage sick..." (1:38)

Images of Nora and Gustav dissolve into one another. (1:38)

Gustav tells Agnes, referring to Erik, "... Don’t worry about his accent..." 
”... He was ecstatic.” 
Agnes: ”... I didn't see you for ages.” (1:39)

Agnes tells Nora, "... You know how anxious I get..." 
Nora reads the script: ”... I had this kind of crisis...” (1:49)

Nora asks Agnes, "... about my suicide attempt?" 
Agnes: ”... You were there for me when Mom was down...” (1:55)

Nora, with a rope and chair, appears to prepare to hang herself. (2:02)