Dreams (Sex Love)

Dreams (Sex Love)
Promotional poster
NorwegianDrømmer
Directed byDag Johan Haugerud
Written byDag Johan Haugerud
Produced by
  • Hege Hauff Hvattum
  • Yngve Saether
Starring
CinematographyCecilie Semec
Edited byJens Christian Fodstad
Music byAnna Berg
Production
companies
  • Motlys AS
  • Novemberfilm
Distributed bym-appeal
Release dates
  • 4 October 2024 (2024-10-04) (Norway)
  • 19 February 2025 (2025-02-19) (Berlinale)
Running time
110 minutes[1]
Country
  • Norway
LanguageNorwegian

Dreams (Sex Love) (Norwegian: Drømmer) is a 2024 Norwegian drama film written and directed by Dag Johan Haugerud. In between Sex and Love, it is the second part of a trilogy by Haugerud that deals with the complexity of human relationships, sexuality and social norms. The film follows Johanne's (Ella Øverbye) infatuation with her French teacher Johanna (Selome Emnetu), which ignite tensions within her family, as her mother and grandmother confront their own unfulfilled dreams and desires.[2]

The film was released in Norwegian theaters on 4 October 2024.[3] In 2025, it was selected for the Main Competition at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival,[4] where had its international premiere on 19 February 2025, and won the Golden Bear.[5]

Cast

Production

On 22 September 2022, Viaplay handed the making of a trilogy of films titled "Sex, Dreams and Love", to director Dag Johan Haugerud. Produced by Norway's Motlys and Viaplay, the trilogy was supported by the Norwegian Film Institute, the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Oslo Filmfond and Arthaus.[6] Haugerud in an interview with Variety revealed that he was inspired by Krzysztof Kieślowski’s 1993-1994 Three Colours trilogy to take this project. He said, "The aim was to make three films that deal with the same topics from different perspectives." He elaborated, "They should look and feel very different, but give the impression that they are all part of the same conversation." [7]

Release

The film was released in Norwegian cinemas on 4 October 2024.[3]

Dreams (Sex Love) had its International premiere on 19 February 2025, as part of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, in Competition.[8][9][10] The film made its Asian premiere closing the 49th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 21 April 2025.[11]

It was released theatrically in Germany on 8 May 2025 by Alamode Film.[12]

The film featured at the 72nd Sydney Film Festival in the Features section on 4 June 2025.[13] It was also part of Horizons section of the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was screened from 4 July to 10 July 2025.[14]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 14 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10.[15]

Peter Bradshaw reviewing for The Guardian rated the film with 4 out of 5 stars and wrote that the film is a cunning, chatty, and playful creation reminiscent of Lukas Moodysson’s early film Show Me Love.[16]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 23 February 2025 Golden Bear Dreams (Sex Love) Won [17]
FIPRESCI Prize Won [18]
Prize of the Guild of German Arthouse cinemas Won [19]

References

  1. ^ "Dreams (Sex Love) [PG]". Australian Classification Board. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  2. ^ Dag Johan Haugerud (17 December 2024). "Dreams". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Dreams". Norwegian Film Institute. 17 September 2024. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  4. ^ Rosser, Michael (21 January 2025). "Berlin film festival reveals 2025 competition line-up 2025". ScreenDaily. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  5. ^ Ntim, Zac (22 February 2025). "Berlin Film Festival: Norwegian Film 'Dreams (Sex Love)' Wins Golden Bear, Andrew Scott & Rose Byrne Take Acting Honors — Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  6. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (23 September 2022). "Dag Johan Haugerud to direct Sex, Dreams and Love for Viaplay". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  7. ^ Marta Balaga (17 January 2024). "Let's Talk About 'Sex': Dag Johan Haugerud Discusses 'Sincere, Truthful and Shameless' First Part of Trilogy as It Scores Berlinale Premiere, Debuts Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  8. ^ Davide Abbatescianni (21 January 2025). "The Berlinale unveils the titles playing in its Competition and its Perspectives and Berlinale Special strands". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  9. ^ Ntim, Zac (21 January 2025). "Berlin Film Festival Lineup: Richard Linklater, Jessica Chastain, A$AP Rocky & Marion Cotillard Movies Among Vibrant Selection". Deadline. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  10. ^ "Dreams (Sex Love)". Berlinale. 4 February 2025. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  11. ^ Shackleton, Liz (17 March 2025). "'The Brightest Sun', 'Pavane For An Infant' To Open HKIFF; Leos Carax & Ando Sakura Among Filmmakers Set To Attend". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Oslo-Stories: TRÄUME" [Oslo Stories: DREAMS]. Film Starts (in German). 12 September 2024. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  13. ^ "Dreams (Sex Love)". Sydney Film Festival. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Catalogue of Films". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Dreams". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  16. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (1 February 2025). "Drømmer (Dreams) review – teen's high romantic hopes throw adults into disarray". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  17. ^ Scott Roxborough (21 January 2025). "Berlin Film Festival Lineup: Movies From Richard Linklater, Michel Franco, Hang Song-Soo in Competition (Full List)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  18. ^ Scott Roxborough (22 February 2025). "Berlin: Fipresci International Film Critic Award Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  19. ^ "Further Prizes". Berlinale. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.