Sex is a 2024 Norwegian romantic drama film written and directed by Dag Johan Haugerud for Viaplay. The film starring Jan Gunnar Røise and Thorbjørn Harr, is the first instalment in the new "Sex Dreams Love" trilogy. It follows two men in heterosexual marriages whose unexpected experiences challenge their perceptions of sexuality, gender and identity.[1]
| Sex | |
|---|---|
 Festival release poster | |
| Directed by | Dag Johan Haugerud |
| Written by | Dag Johan Haugerud |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Cecilie Semec |
| Edited by | Jens Christian Fodstad |
| Music by | Peder Capjon Kjellsby |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | m-appeal world sales |
Release date |
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Running time | 125 minutes |
| Country | Norway |
| Language | Norwegian |
The film was selected in the Panorama section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival where it had its world premiere on 17 February 2024.[2][3]
Synopsis
editIn Dag Johan Haugerud’s film Sex, the story unfolds against the backdrop of modern urban Norway. Through clever wordplay, the film challenges conventional notions of masculinity and societal norms, regardless of whether the characters identify as heterosexual or homosexual.
Two chimney sweeps, both in monogamous, heterosexual marriages, find themselves in situations that challenge their perspectives on sexuality and gender norms. One of them has a sexual encounter with another man, yet doesn’t interpret it as an expression of homosexual desire or infidelity. Meanwhile, the other experiences vivid nocturnal dreams where he appears as a woman. This bewildering experience leads him to question how much external perception shapes his identity and whether he has suppressed aspects of himself, thus limiting his true self.
Cast
edit- Jan Gunnar Røise as Chimney Sweeper
- Thorbjørn Harr as CEO
- Siri Forberg as Chimey Sweeper’s Wife
- Birgitte Larsen as CEO’s Wife
Production
editOn 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.[4] 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." [5]
Release
editSex had its world premiere on 17 February 2024, as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in Panorama.[6][7]
In January 2024, m-appeal world sales acquired the international sales rights of the film.[8]
The film was featured in Features section of the 71st Sydney Film Festival on June 6, 2024.[9] It will be screened in 'Panorama' at the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival on 26 September 2024.[10] It will also be presented in Strands: Love section of the 2024 BFI London Film Festival on 14 October 2024.[11] In October it will also compete at the 69th Valladolid International Film Festival for Golden Spike.[12][13]
The film has been selected for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 under the World Cinema section.[14]
Reception
editSavina Petkova reviewing the film at Berlinale for Cineuropa wrote, "the film is very much concerned with talking, and not at all about sexual acts themselves." Petkova concluded, "Sex acknowledges that all of our conventions are constantly in the process of being destroyed and reconfigured."[15]
Reviewing the film for the International Cinephile Society, Matthew Joseph Jenner remarked that Sex is "an intelligent and complex film, and outside of a few brief, almost inconsequential moments in which we can feel the desire manifesting in these characters, it is a straightforward film that refuses to resort to shocking imagery or intentionally scintillating conversations to stir a reaction" and called it “one of the most bold and unflinching deconstructions of masculinity we have seen in years.” [16]
Accolades
edit| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | 25 February 2024 | Panorama Audience Award for Best Feature Film | Dag Johan Haugerud | Nominated | [6] |
| Prizes of the Ecumenical Jury | Sex | Won | [17] | ||
| CICAE Art Cinema Award | Won | ||||
| Europa Cinemas Label Award | Won | ||||
| Valladolid International Film Festival | 26 October 2024 | Golden Spike | Nominated | [12] |
References
edit- ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (19 January 2024). "Dag Johan Haugerud's Sex to premiere at the Berlinale". Cineuropa. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (17 January 2024). "The Panorama strand of the Berlinale to open with Levan Akin's Crossing". Cineuropa. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Dag Johan Haugerud's Nordic Drama 'Sex' Sells to Key Territories Following Berlinale Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 20 February 2024.
- ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (23 September 2022). "Dag Johan Haugerud to direct Sex, Dreams and Love for Viaplay". Cineuropa. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ 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. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ a b Goodfellow, Melanie (17 January 2024). "Berlinale Unveils Full Panorama, Forum & Generation Line-Ups With New Films By Nathan Silver, Levan Akin, André Téchiné & Bruce LaBruce". Deadline. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Sex". Berlinale. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ Leo Barraclough (31 January 2024). "Dag Johan Haugerud's Nordic Drama 'Sex' Picked Up by M-Appeal Ahead of Berlinale Panorama Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Sex". Sydney Film Festival Festival. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Sex". VIFF. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (4 September 2024). "BFI London Film Festival Lineup: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin To Debut 'Endurance', Baker, Heller, Berger & Abbasi's Trump Movie Among Headline Galas — Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ a b Rivera, Alfonso (12 September 2024). "Major European filmmakers set to compete for the Golden Spike at Seminci". Cineuropa. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ "Sex". Valladolid International Film Festival. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ Deb, Deepshikha (30 September 2024). "MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Unveils 2024 Official Lineup". High On Films. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Petkova, Savina (17 February 2024). "Review: Sex". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Jenner, Matthew Joseph (21 February 2024). "Review: Berlinale 2024 review: Sex (Dag Johan Haugerud)". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ Scott Roxborough (24 February 2024). "Berlin: Indie Juries Pick 'Sex', 'Dying' and 'Cake'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
