Dreams (Sex Love)

Dreams (Sex Love)
Theatrical release 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 byArthaus
Release date
  • 4 October 2024 (2024-10-04)
Running time
110 minutes[1]
CountryNorway
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 ignites 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]

The English title was changed from Dreams to Dreams (Sex Love) in order to distinguish it from the 2025 Michel Franco film Dreams, which was also in the 2025 Berlin competition.[8]

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.[9][10][11] The film made its Asian premiere closing the 49th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 21 April 2025.[12]

It was released theatrically in Germany on 8 May 2025 by Alamode Film.[13]

The film featured at the 72nd Sydney Film Festival in the Features section on 4 June 2025.[14] It was also a part of the Horizons section of the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was screened from 4 July to 10 July 2025.[15] It was showcased at the 53rd Norwegian International Film Festival as Amanda Award nominee on 16 August 2025,[16] and at the 29th Lima Film Festival in the 'Acclaimed' section.[17]

Dreams (Sex Love) was also a part of the World Cinema at the 2025 Atlantic International Film Festival and screened on 11 September 2025,[18] and then it was also presented in the Icon section at the 30th Busan International Film Festival on 21 September 2025.[19]

It will compete in the Main Program Together Again at the Zagreb Film Festival for Golden Pram Award on 12 November 2025.[20] On the same day, it was presented in Official Section of 22nd Seville European Film Festival.[21][22]

It will be presented in 'From The Festivals - 2025' section of the 56th International Film Festival of India in November 2025.[23]

The film was shortlisted alongwith other two films as the Norwegian‘s Oscar submission for 98th Academy Awards.[24]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 39 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10.[25]

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.[26]

Accolades

The film was shortlisted for nomination to 2026 European Film Awards in feature film category. The award ceremony will take place on 17 January 2026.[27]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 23 February 2025 Golden Bear Dreams (Sex Love) Won [28]
FIPRESCI Prize Won [29]
Prize of the Guild of German Arthouse cinemas Won [30]
Amanda Award 16 August 2025 Best Norwegian Film Nominated [31]
Best Director (film) Day Johan Haugerud Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Role Ella Øverbye Nominated
Best Sound Design Gisle Tveito Nominated
Best Original Soundtrack Anna Berg Nominated
Best Costume Design Ida Toft Nominated
Best Editing Jens Christian Fodstad Won [32]
Nordic Council Film Prize 31 October 2025 Nordic Council Film Prize Dreams (Sex Love) Nominated [33][34]

See also

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. ^ Macnab, Geoffrey (28 February 2025). "Norwegian powerhouse Motlys on producing 'Dreams (Sex, Love)' and the winding road to the Berlinale Golden Bear". Screen Daily. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Dreams (Sex Love)". Berlinale. 4 February 2025. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Dreams (Sex Love)". Sydney Film Festival. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Catalogue of Films". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Dreams (Sex Love)". Norwegian International Film Festival. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Toda la programación del Festival de Cine de Lima 2025" [The entire program for the 2025 Lima Film Festival]. Escribiendo Cine (in Spanish). 24 July 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Dreams (Sex Love)". Atlantic International Film Festival. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Selection List : Icon". BIFF. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Dreams (Sex Love)". Zagreb Film Festival. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Dreams (Sex Love)". Seville European Film Festival. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  22. ^ Rivera, Alfonso (4 November 2025). "The Seville European Film Festival readies its 22nd edition". Cineuropa. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  23. ^ "From The Festivals - 2025". International Film Festival of India. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Oscar 2025: The feature films Dreams by Dag Johan Haugerud, Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier and the documentary Facing War by Tommy Gulliksen have been shortlisted as this year's Norwegian Oscar candidates". Norwegian Film Institute. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Dreams". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  26. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (1 February 2025). "Drømmer (Dreams) review – teen's high romantic hopes throw adults into disarray". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  27. ^ Ntim, Zac (14 October 2025). "'Bugonia', 'On Falling' & 'Sound Of Falling' Among Titles On The European Film Awards Nominations Shortlist". Deadline. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ Scott Roxborough (22 February 2025). "Berlin: Fipresci International Film Critic Award Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  30. ^ "Further Prizes". Berlinale. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  31. ^ "Her er Amandanominasjonene 2025" [Here are the Amanda nominations 2025]. Norwegian International Film Festival (in Norwegian). Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  32. ^ Marta Balaga (16 August 2025). "Norway's Amanda Awards Feel 'Loveable' As Lilja Ingolfsdottir's Drama Wins Big". Variety. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  33. ^ Ntim, Zac (18 August 2025). "Nordic Council Film Prize Expanded To Include Faroe Islands, Nominees Include Göran Hugo Olsson's Israel-Palestine Doc". Deadline. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  34. ^ "Seven exceptional films nominated for the 2025 Nordic Council Film Prize". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
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