Love and Desire in Copenhagen
In the vibrant heart of Copenhagen, Johan (Magnus Juhl Andersen) seems to have it all. Young, attractive, and carefree, he spends his nights exploring the city’s queer nightlife and hopping between casual hookups. Working at Adonis Copenhagen’s only gay sauna gives him even easier access to fleeting encounters, where the line between work and pleasure is easily blurred.
But Johan’s fast-paced lifestyle is shaken when he swipes right on William (Nina Rask), a trans-masc university student. Their connection is immediate, passionate, and different from the fleeting flings Johan has grown used to. As their relationship deepens, Johan finds himself seeing the world through William’s perspective, challenging his own assumptions about identity and intimacy.
A Queer Romance That Breaks New Ground
Sauna, the latest feature from Danish filmmaker Mathias Broe, is not just another steamy queer drama. While intimacy is at the film’s core, the story bravely explores what it means to truly be seen and accepted inside and outside queer spaces.
When Johan brings William to Adonis, the sanctuary of heat and hookups suddenly becomes hostile. Johan’s boss deliberately misgenders William, declaring the sauna a place “for men to have sex with men.” In that moment, the safe space Johan once enjoyed reveals its limits, exposing the prejudices that persist even within LGBTQ+ communities.
Through William, Johan comes to understand the privileges he’s always taken for granted as a cis gay man. Their relationship shows that queer love is about more than just passion—it’s about resilience, authenticity, and the fight for visibility.
Steamy Intimacy Meets Emotional Depth
Though Sauna tackles weighty issues of identity, gender, and belonging, it never loses sight of the sensuality its title promises. The film offers an array of intimate scenes inside the sauna’s walls, capturing both the thrill of new desire and the vulnerability of deep connection.
One particularly daring sequence involving Johan, William, and a strap-on stands out as a bold cinematic moment one that blends erotic heat with raw authenticity. It’s a scene that pushes boundaries while staying grounded in the honesty of their relationship.
From Sundance to Global Queer Festivals
Sauna premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, earning international buzz for its groundbreaking narrative and unflinching intimacy. Since then, it has been featured at festivals across the globe and continues to spark conversations wherever it screens.
Its next stop? The Reel Queer Festival in Little Rock, Arkansas, is running August 20–24, 2025. This unique LGBTQ+ festival brings together a diverse slate of films, including Sauna, alongside other highlights like the gay cop drama Plainclothes, the documentary Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, and a drag brunch with RuPaul’s Drag Race star Loosey LaDuca.
For local audiences, it’s a rare opportunity to experience groundbreaking queer cinema before wider release.
Why Sauna Matters
At its heart, Sauna is a story about intimacy, visibility, and the ways queer love can thrive despite societal barriers. By centering a romance between a cis gay man and a trans-masc character, the film gives voice to experiences rarely seen on screen, offering representation that feels both urgent and overdue.
As Johan and William navigate passion, prejudice, and personal discovery, Sauna challenges viewers to consider what it means to love and to be loved for who you truly are.
Further release details for Sauna have yet to be announced, but stay tuned for more details and more festival dates. In the meantime, check out the international trailer for the film below:
