🎬 Sauna

Set within the vibrant nightlife and bathhouse culture of Copenhagen, Sauna follows Johan, a handsome and charismatic gay man who fully embraces the freedom of casual flings, party culture, and the steamy camaraderie of local gay saunas. His hedonistic routine is upended when he meets William, a magnetic transgender man beginning his own journey of physical and emotional transition. As an intense, consuming passion sparks between them, both men are forced to re-examine their deeply ingrained assumptions about gender, sexual attraction, identity, and romantic commitment. Navigating the modern queer landscape, their relationship oscillates between tender devotion, intense physical intimacy, and insecurity as they fight to construct a love of their own.

⭐ Film Evaluation & Ratings 📈

🟡 IMDb Rating: 6.1 / 10

🍅 Rotten Tomatoes: N/A (Nordic & Festival Premieres)
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Critical Consensus: Directed by Mathias Broe in his feature directorial debut, Sauna premiered to strong acclaim at major international festivals including Sundance. Praised for its groundbreaking, authentic portrayal of trans-cis gay romance and its sensual, nuanced exploration of identity, the film is anchored by raw,

magnetic lead performances from Magnus Juhl Andersen and Nina Terese Rask.

💡 Did You Know?

Literary Adaptation: The film is adapted directly from the celebrated 2021 Danish novel Sauna written by activist and author Mads Ananda Lodahl.

Sundance World Premiere: The project achieved major international recognition by being selected for the prestigious Narrative Feature section at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Recommendations

Similar Titles: Girl Picture, Passages, Weekend, And Then We Danced.