Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud’s “Sex, Dreams and Love” trilogy continues with its second chapter, Dreams, focusing on the enduring impact of first love and the healing power of art. While the other films in the trilogy explore relationships between adults, this one centers on the dreams and desires of seventeen-year-old Johanne. Deeply in love with her French teacher, the young girl pours her emotions onto the page, moving between overwhelming joy and bitter disappointment. It is unclear whether her writing reflects just fantasies borne out of unrequited love or actual intimate moments shared with her teacher. This ambiguity does not matter until Johanne decides to read what she has written to her grandmother, a poet, in search of literary advice.

Known for his dialogue-driven films, Haugerud enriches the finely crafted screenplay of Dreams with a visual atmosphere that highlights Oslo and its architecture, and a deeply moving use of music.

Berlin 2025

Golden Bear for Best Film, FIPRESCI Prize