sentimentalization

/ˌsɛntəmənˌtæləˈzeɪʃən/
noun
  1. The act or process of treating something in an overly emotional or nostalgic way, often ignoring its harsher realities.
    • The sentimentalization of war in old movies often hides its true horror.
    • Historians warn against the sentimentalization of the past, which can distort our understanding.
    • The film's sentimentalization of poverty angered critics who felt it was unrealistic.