M-Appeal Closes Deals for Venice Competition Title ‘Love’ Ahead of World Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
M-Appeal has secured sales in key territories for Venice Film Festival competition title “Love,” directed by Norwegian filmmaker Dag Johan Haugerud, in advance of its world premiere.
The Berlin-based boutique sales company has reported sales to Pyramide for France, Alamode for Germany and Austria, and September Film for the Benelux region.
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“Pyramide is thrilled to welcome Dag Johan Haugerud in its French home. We loved ‘Sex’ at first sight when we discovered the film in Berlin this year and we are very confident that adding ‘Love’ to our lineup makes sense in order to embrace the vision of humanity which this great Norwegian artist has instilled in his Oslo trilogy,” Pyramide Distribution’s Eric Lagasse said.
Fabien Arséguel, managing director of Alamode Film, remarked: “After the acquisition of ‘Sex’ at the last Berlinale we are more than happy to continue our cooperation with M-Appeal with ‘Love.’ Like ‘Sex,’ ‘Love’ deals in a very smart, natural and above all sensitive way about questions of human relationships and sexuality. The dialogues are full of humor, the plot full of surprises. It’s just a lot of fun to watch this beautifully directed and very well-produced film and we are looking forward to bringing the trilogy to a young German audience next spring.”
All deals include a theatrical release.
“Love” is part of Haugerud’s evocative trilogy – “Sex,” “Love” and “Dreams” – that delves into the complexities of human relationships, sexuality and societal norms.
“I am very happy for the opportunity to present ‘Love’ to an international audience at the Venice Film Festival. ‘Love’ is a romantic film about various forms of love, care, responsibility and sexuality – all with a summery Oslo as a backdrop. And since such a large part of the action takes place on the fjord outside Oslo, it feels as if the film has an atmosphere and character that could fit Venice well. At least I hope so,” Haugerud said.
“Love” tells the story of Marianne, a pragmatic doctor, and Tor, a compassionate nurse, who both avoid conventional relationships. One evening, after a blind date, Marianne encounters Tor on a ferry. Tor often spends his nights there seeking casual encounters with men and shares his experiences of spontaneous intimacy and meaningful conversations. Intrigued by his perspective, Marianne begins to question societal norms and explores whether such casual intimacy could also be an option for her.
The romantic film aims to provoke thought and discussion about sexual freedoms and relationships for all genders, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own expectations and beliefs.
M-Appeal also handles the other titles in the trilogy: “Sex,” which premiered earlier this year at Berlinale in the Panorama section, where it won three awards, and the recently acquired “Dreams,” the premiere of which will be announced in due time.
To date, “Sex” has been sold to numerous territories including North America, Germany, Austria, Benelux, Spain, Italy, France, the U.K. and Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, the Ex-Yugoslavian territories, Hungary, South Korea and Indonesia.
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