Unveiling Dag Johan Haugerud’s Bold ‘Sex’ Trailer Now

The Trailer That Proposed: What If Intimacy Was Just… Conversation?
Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud has unveiled the official U.S. trailer for Sex, and it’s already provoking thought—without revealing any nudity. In a world where “bold” often implies “unsuitable for work,” Sex challenges that notion: it’s a narrative centered around closeness, inhibition, and the intricacies of self-awareness, presented through brutally sincere dialogues. The title may attract the curious, yet what awaits them is a more subdued—and strikingly subversive—experience.

Imagine Bergman scripting an episode of ‘Modern Love’—with chimney sweeps.
Indeed, chimney sweeps. In Oslo, two ordinary, married men, resembling figures from a folk story, embark on deeply personal explorations of sexuality and identity. One engages with another man… and conveys this to his wife, maintaining it isn’t infidelity. The other yearns to transition into a woman, sparking a cascade of existential unease. The trailer reveals no sensuality, no cinematic explosions—only heavy silences and open wounds.

Incredibly, Sex is the first installment in Haugerud’s Sex Dreams Love trilogy. The second part (Love) is already available, while the third (Dreams) is expected this fall. Yet, Sex stands apart as a quiet revolution. It’s less about seduction and more about dismantling preconceived notions of gender.

The True Shock? Men Sharing Emotions Without Exploding
This film is about the dissolution of boundaries—not just physically, but in terms of identity. It resonates differently in a world influenced by Fleabag, Stutz, and a culture where seeking therapy has become commonplace. It doesn’t yell “representation!”—instead, it inquires who’s acting for whom, and why?

With echoes of Andrew Haigh’s Weekend and Alain Guiraudie’s Stranger by the Lake, Sex is even more restrained. There are no crimes, climaxes, or cathartic moments. Only awkward, soul-stirring honesty.

In a time when cinematic portrayals of intimacy often come coated in polished HBO aesthetics, Sex feels like overhearing an intimate therapy session you’re not meant to witness. The way it capitalizes on discomfort is… precise.

The Oslo Trilogy: Quietly Challenging the Entire Industry
The irony is rich. Haugerud designates this as an “Oslo Trilogy”—a possible nod to Joachim Trier’s own emotionally impactful Oslo Trilogy (Reprise, Oslo August 31st, The Worst Person in the World). However, while Trier offers dreamlike montages and introspective voiceovers steeped in existential longing, Haugerud merely… observes conversations. And conversations. Until something shatters.

Here’s the kicker: Sex premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2024 with little fanfare. With its U.S. release on June 13th (via Strand Releasing), it may finally gain the recognition it deserves—from viewers expecting softcore but instead encountering deep psychological exploration.

So—Is ‘Sex’ a Masterpiece, a Jest, or a Midlife Crisis Captured on Film?
Would you spend $20 to witness two chimney sweeps unravel over suppressed desire?
No judgment here. (Alright, maybe a little judgment.)