In Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” Elle Fanning plays Rachel Kemp. With Joachim Trier’s next film Sentimental Value, Elle Fanning is taking on one of the most reflective roles of her career, and the experience has had a profound effect on her both personally and professionally. In the movie, Fanning portrays Hollywood actress Rachel Kemp, who must face an unpleasant reality: sometimes the most courageous thing to do is to give up on something you truly desire.
It was an unexpected opportunity. Fanning acknowledged that although she had long admired Trier, particularly after The Worst Person in the World, she had never thought a part would be ready for her. In a recent interview with Variety, she said, “I was a big fan, obviously, of The Worst Person in the World, like everyone.” “I didn’t know if there would ever be a part for me, but you think of directors and you think, ‘Yeah, Joachim, he’s on my bucket list.'” She was in New York getting ready to travel to New Zealand for Predator: Badlands when the script arrived, and her response was instantaneous and poignant.
“I didn’t really give a damn about the part. I started crying after reading the script. After that, I could truly empathize to Rachel Kemp. I could see how I wanted to portray her. The time that ensued was dramatic. Fanning drove directly to France to film scenes with Stellan Skarsgård during the Deauville Film Festival after juggling rehearsals in Oslo and an action-packed shoot in New Zealand.
In Hollywood, she said, it was uncommon for two studios to work together to make it all work. The portrayal of Rachel Kemp is one of ambition, uncertainty, and a strong desire to succeed. “We find her at a place when she’s lost, and a little depressed herself,” Fanning said, acknowledging the character’s emotional appeal. She doesn’t seem to have much control over her job and decisions, in my opinion. She believes she has a lot to offer, but in order to demonstrate that, you must be given the chance or put in such positions. A major issue was striking a balance between Rachel’s vulnerability and her star power.
“I knew that viewers had to think she was a huge celebrity. Thus, some of that air must exist, Fanning said. However, a hard-won lesson is at the core of the role: “She’s learning how to say no for the first time… Although she is aware that this is a fantastic opportunity, she also recognizes that it is simply not appropriate. And actors may find that really challenging. The part, which comes at a pivotal point in Fanning’s career, represents her personal development. She has been an actress since she was a little child, and she attributes her development on screen to films like The Great. Sentimental Value seemed like a logical and significant next step after she noted, “I felt myself growing in my power doing that show.”
