A fascinating look into Sweden's changing stance on sexual liberalism

The Sex Temple (2015) by Johan Palmgren is a fascinating look into Sweden's changing sexual liberalism juxtaposed against the rise of Christian moralism.

The film documents two opened minded businessmen who join forces to pursue their dreams in the Swedish town of Norrkping. Robin who is on the verge of bankruptcy is desperately trying to hold on to his historic beautiful theatre which is a venue for LGBQT events besides being his home where he lives with his husband, and the other businessman, is a depressed Christian who wants to re-open his Adam and Eve swingers' club which had burnt down in a fire. Robin who has sunk all of his financial resources into the theatre to keep it afloat rents out his cellar to Christian who renovates the space to accommodate his swingers' club. While the two men see nothing wrong in their business arrangement, the residents of the town want nothing to do with it and mount an unrelenting media smear campaign against them in order to shut them down. "What the heck?" I thought.

The Sex Temple is an intimate, character-driven reality drama as it chronicles the trials, triumphs and tribulations of both men. Johan Palmgren does an excellent job in giving us intimate portraits of these two likeable bedfellows as they live their lives, pursue their goals and cope with the negative press and opposition to their partnership. The dramatic tension doesn't let up and if you want to find out what happens to Robin and Christian and the Arbis Theatre, well then, you've got to see this documentary. Palmgren does a wonderful job in capturing the vitality of the LGBQT+ community associated with the Arbis Theatre which I loved tremendously together together with demystifying the stigma associated with swingers' clubs.

I found the documentary thought provoking and wondered what was happening in Sweden with its progressive sexual liberalism and not letting people live their lives.

Swedish cinema is renowned for psychological depth, austere beauty, and philosophical inquiry. It often focuses on existential questions and societal critique, marked by a stark visual approach. In contemporary times, it has also developed a sharp satirical edge in examining social issues.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The manager of an old and well known theater in a small town in Sweden rents out the cellar to a swingers club that has just lost their previous place in a fire.

Patrick Austen, Johan Palmgren, Christian Haag, Hanna Storby, Robin Karlsson, Lisa Wahlbom, and David Ricci in The Sex Temple (2015)

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