"It was extremely important that it never felt like porn"

"World-class", "uninhibited" and "naked" – this is how the new season of "Threesome" is described, which is praised not least for its authentic sex scenes. I wanted to portray sex and sexuality in a way that has not been seen before, says director Lisa Linnertorp.

» Updated:

» Published:

"It was extremely important that it never felt like porn"
Photo: Caisa Rasmussen/TT

Share this article

"World-class", "uninhibited" and "naked" – that's how the new season of "Threesome" is described, praised not least for its authentic sex scenes.

I wanted to portray sex and sexuality in a way that hasn't been seen before, says director Lisa Linnertorp.

In the new season on SVT Play, the plot revolves around the male character David.

It was a challenge to switch bodies and perspectives, but extremely exciting. It was also great to portray and explore male friendship, says Linnertorp.

"Threesome" has been praised by critics for being realistic and for letting viewers get close to the characters and the story. Especially the sex scenes have received a lot of attention.

I'm so proud of those scenes, but they were a nut to crack. I wanted to have the same intimacy there as in the rest of the story.

To succeed, it required extensive work that involved everything from describing the scenes in minute detail in the script, to using intimacy coordinators and having "intimacy rehearsals" where the scenes were rehearsed step by step in slow tempo.

"You sense the male gaze"

Linnertorp didn't find many references in popular culture to use as inspiration, she says.

Often you can be very close in a story, but when the sex scenes come, there's suddenly a distance. It's in half-shadow or silhouette, or they have clothes on. It just doesn't work.

The film "Blue Is the Warmest Color", whose long and explicit sex scenes sparked controversy in 2013, was a clear example of how she didn't want to portray sex in the series.

It also gets very close, but I felt that it's something that bothers. You sense the male gaze a lot, she says and continues:

It was also extremely important for me that it never felt like porn, even though it's so graphic and close.

"Puritanical hypocrisy"

Sex and nudity on film and TV have long been debated, not least after #MeToo, but Linnertorp believes that more realistic portrayals of sex and intimacy are needed.

I see no problem with it if you do it in a way that's justified and decent. It was extremely important for me to tell about female sexuality, desire, and lust, and to do it with my gaze, she says and means that there's "a puritanical hypocrisy" in the debate.

We have no problem with portraying violence and sexual violence extremely graphically, but sex that occurs with consent is very uncomfortable. It's completely unreasonable to me, that's why I felt I had to do it, she says.

"Threesome" is about Siri and David who have been a couple for seven years, but end up in a crisis after a threesome with French student Camille. The first season revolves around Siri, and in the second season, the viewers follow David.

The first season of the drama series was released on Viaplay in the fall of 2021. It quickly gained a lot of attention and was praised for being realistic, in everything from dialogue to sex scenes. Last fall, SVT began discussions with the struggling streaming service about taking over the series. On June 26, the first season was released on SVT Play, and on July 3, season two premiered.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Unknown Picasso Painting for Sale at Paris Auction

Unknown Picasso Painting for Sale at Paris Auction

One in Four Students Lacks Access to Staffed School Libraries

One in Four Students Lacks Access to Staffed School Libraries

Jimmy Kimmel Show Replaced by Charlie Kirk Tribute on ABC

Jimmy Kimmel Show Replaced by Charlie Kirk Tribute on ABC

Robert Gustafsson Reflects on Career in New Documentary Series

Robert Gustafsson Reflects on Career in New Documentary Series

Opera Stopped by Nazis Debuts in Berlin with Norrköping Symphony

Opera Stopped by Nazis Debuts in Berlin with Norrköping Symphony

Jimmy Kimmel's Show Halted by ABC After Controversial Comment

Jimmy Kimmel's Show Halted by ABC After Controversial Comment

Jonas Brothers Return for New Camp Rock Film After 15 Years

Jonas Brothers Return for New Camp Rock Film After 15 Years

Korslagda Kukar Changes Name to Korslagda to Avoid Booking Issues

Korslagda Kukar Changes Name to Korslagda to Avoid Booking Issues

Gold Valued at Millions Stolen from Paris Natural History Museum

Gold Valued at Millions Stolen from Paris Natural History Museum

Norway Urges EBU to Address Israel's Eurovision Participation

Norway Urges EBU to Address Israel's Eurovision Participation

Jan Scherman Awarded Torgny Segerstedt's Freedom Pen for Democracy Work

Jan Scherman Awarded Torgny Segerstedt's Freedom Pen for Democracy Work

Jonas Sjöstedt Calls for Israel's Exclusion from Eurovision

Jonas Sjöstedt Calls for Israel's Exclusion from Eurovision

Melodifestivalen 2026 Tour Cities Announced for Next Year

Melodifestivalen 2026 Tour Cities Announced for Next Year

Hollywood Remembers Robert Redford: A Unique Talent

Hollywood Remembers Robert Redford: A Unique Talent

This Week's Films and Series: Dance and Drama Highlights

This Week's Films and Series: Dance and Drama Highlights

Cecilia Uddén Faces Criticism Over Middle East Book and Gaza Reporting

Cecilia Uddén Faces Criticism Over Middle East Book and Gaza Reporting

Julia Franzén's Film Debut in The Dance Club: A Brave New Role

Julia Franzén's Film Debut in The Dance Club: A Brave New Role

Man Arrested in Atlanta for Theft of Beyoncé's Unreleased Music

Man Arrested in Atlanta for Theft of Beyoncé's Unreleased Music

Court Denies New Trial for Menendez Brothers

Court Denies New Trial for Menendez Brothers

Swedish Filmmaker Lasse Westman Passes Away at 86

Swedish Filmmaker Lasse Westman Passes Away at 86