Sex - Norway

Sex follows two men in heterosexual marriages whose perceptions of sexuality, gender and identity are challenged by unexpected experiences. 
One has a sexual encounter with another man without seeing it as a sign of homosexuality or infidelity. The other has dreams in which David Bowie sees him as a woman, stirring confusion and leading him to question how much our personalities are shaped by how others see us. 

With Sex, director and screenwriter Dag Johan Haugerud has created a sophisticated and entertaining film about masculinity and sexuality. Two colleagues share strange experiences with each other. Both are facing challenges about who they are as men and fathers. The filmmaker treats their attempts to figure it all out with empathy, original dramaturgical choices and a confident aesthetic that confirms Haugerud’s position as one of Norway’s most exciting filmmakers. His rich and funny dialogue is enhanced by a visual language that almost seems to comment on the plot. Haugerud is ably abetted by the co-leads, Thorbjørn Harr and Jan Gunnar Røise, who both deliver sterling performances. The same applies to photographer Cecilie Semec, who constantly finds exciting wide-screen compositions and new images of contemporary Oslo without distracting from Haugerud’s rich script. Along with editor Jens Christian Fodstad, they develop a cinematic, entertaining and interesting portrait of two believable Nordic men going through credible human trials and tribulations. 

Dag Johan Haugerud has established himself as one of Norway's most influential screenwriters and directors and as a novelist. I Belong (2012) won Amandas (Norwegian Oscars) for Best Film, Director, Screenplay and Female Supporting Role, the Film Critics' Award and was Norway's entry for the Nordic Council Film Prize. 
Beware of Children (2019), which had its international premiere in Venice, won Dragon awards for Best Film and Actor at the Gothenburg Film Festival, a record nine Amandas, the Film Critics' Award and the Nordic Council Film Prize. Haugerud also directed the short features You Are The One That I Want(2014) and The Light From the Chocolate Factory (2020).

Producer Yngve Sæther is one of Norway's most experienced and award-winning producers and has produced around twenty features in as many years. He has won the Amanda for Best Film three times, with The Man Who Loved Yngve (2008), I Belong (2012) and Beware of Children (2020). Five of his films have been Norwegian entries for the Nordic Council Film Prize. 

Hege Hauff Hvattum is the latest in the line of producers to emerge from the film company Motlys. She started her career as a freelancer, producing two TV dramas for NRK: Lovleg (two seasons, 2018–2019) and the 24-episode Christmas calendar called Luca and the Magical Theater (2021). 
So far, 2024 has been a crazy year for Hvattum. The first part of the SEX DREAMS LOVE trilogy by Dag Johan Haugerud(Sex2024, Berlinale Panorama, 10 Amanda nominations) has already had its premiere, with DREAMS and LOVE to follow in the autumn.

Original title: Sex 

International title: Sex 

Director: Dag Johan Haugerud 

Screenwriter: Dag Johan Haugerud  

Producers: Yngve Sæther, Hege Hauff Hvattum 

Production company: Motlys 

Distribution company: Arthaus 

Premiere in home country: 01.03.24 

Length: 126 minutes.