The 2025 Berlin Film Festival jury, led by Todd Haynes, fell hard for their eventual Golden Bear winner “Dreams (Sex Love),” the third entry in a trilogy from Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud. Now, Strand Releasing has announced the acquisition of the film, about the fallout of a young woman’s (Ella Øverbye) crush on her female French teacher (Selome Emnetu), for North American release. Strand will also release the prior films in Haugerud’s Oslo Trilogy, “Sex” and “Love,” this summer as well. Watch the trailer for “Love” below.
Here’s the official synopsis of Berlin winner “Dreams,” as a refresh: “In ‘Dreams,’ Johanne falls in love for the first time, with her teacher. To preserve her feelings, she documents her emotions and experiences in writing. When her mother and grandmother read what she has written, they are initially shocked by its intimate content but soon see that it has literary potential. As they debate whether to publish it, Johanne navigates the gap between her romantic fantasy and reality, and all three women confront their differing views on love, sexuality, and self-discovery.”
“Sex,” about the complicated friendship between two straight, middle-aged men who muse on desire and shifting sexuality, premiered at the Berlinale in February 2024; “Love,” about two healthcare workers who bond over their own approaches to romance and relationships, premiered at the Venice Film Festival later in 2024.
Back at the Berlinale, “Dreams (Sex Love)” was not to be confused with another film, the similarly titled “Dreams,” in the competition and from director Michel Franco — perhaps why it was necessary to include the parenthetical. “Dreams (Sex Love)” was one of the best films to premiere at this year’s Berlinale, with IndieWire’s Harrison Richlin writing, “In truth, one of the deep studies Haugerud seems to explore in his work is how dreams aren’t just held while one is sleeping, but as a function of our daily lives.”
Jon Gerrans of Strand Releasing negotiated the deal for the trilogy with Maren Kroymann and Cinthya Calderon of m-appeal world film sales.
The Oslo Trilogy, as it’s deemed, is set for an exclusive New York City engagement beginning with “Love” on May 16, followed by “Sex” on June 13, and “Dreams” on September 12 at Film Forum. The films will have national rollouts after their respective opening dates in cities around North America.
Haugerud’s films join a Norwegian tradition alongside another Oslo Trilogy, from Joachim Trier, who directed “Reprise,” “Oslo, August 31st,” and “The Worst Person in the World” as a triad as well.
“We’re thrilled to be taking this exciting trilogy through Film Forum and across North America. Mr. Haugerud’s thoughtful and beautifully crafted films should resonate well with audiences here as they have in their native country and throughout Europe,” said Gerrans.
Current Strand films in release include “Marcello Mio,” “Meeting with Pol Pot,” and “Viet and Nam,” as well as Lisa Cholodenko’s restoration of “High Art” and the restoration of James Bidgood’s “Pink Narcissus.”
Watch the trailer for “Love” below.
