The IKEA Stool

Written by Eskil Vogt & Joachim Trier for the film Sentimental Value, this contemporary dramatic duologue explores the unsettling boundary where art imitates life. The piece captures a working rehearsal between a film director, Gustav, and an actress, Rachel, as they block the technical beats of a climactic suicide scene. What begins as an artistic discussion about camera movement and pacing sharply shifts into intense personal territory when Gustav reveals the scene is a literal recreation of his own mother's death in that exact room.

Gustav is an intense, sophisticated filmmaker driven by infectious energy and an uncompromising artistic vision. Beneath his collaborative exterior lies a manipulative undercurrent, as he channels unresolved trauma into directing Rachel through his family's private tragedy. Rachel embodies a vulnerable yet ambitious performer eager to tackle demanding artistic challenges. She brings sharp creative instincts to the discussion, balancing her desire to deliver exceptional work with an emerging unease as the personal reality of the material becomes clear.

This scene offers actors an extraordinary study in escalating subtext and psychological tension. Rather than relying on overt melodrama, the drama builds organically through professional dialogue about camera angles, blocking, and creative choices. It provides both performers with generous opportunities to play nuanced status shifts, active listening, and the delicate friction between creative control and emotional exposure.

This piece is ideal for self-tapes, agent showcases, and general practice for actors seeking challenging, contemporary dramatic material. It is particularly well matched for performers exploring Leading Man, Leading Lady, Intense, Vulnerable, or Sophisticated casting profiles across the 30s and 70s age brackets.

Keep the early moments anchored in authentic professional focus and technical curiosity so the later shift carries maximum impact. Gustav should allow his passion for filmmaking to feel completely sincere rather than purely sinister, letting his need for control emerge naturally through the blocking. Rachel should chart the physical transition from collaborative engagement to quiet realization, ensuring every reaction to the director's demands is visibly processed in real time.