Sauna

What is it like to love someone whose experience you don’t understand? This is something that Johan wrestles with in the summer of Copenhagen, after meeting William, a trans man, by chance on Grindr. Soon they are unapologetically falling in love, which takes them on a journey through their differing experiences of gender identity. In his first feature film, director Mathias Broe serves up a romance seasoned with the subcultures of Copenhagen, and the dark ambience of the sauna. Within the love story, Johan is forced to step out of his comfort zone and grow, as both William and the structures surrounding the couple challenge his notions of existing norms, as well as sexuality.

The film offers a timely and thoughtful exploration of LGBTQIA+ relationships. The connection of Mathias Broe, Magnus Juhl Andersen and Nina Rask makes for a genuine and vulnerable result. The visual choices are realistic and show Copenhagen through the main characters’ eyes. The camera moves through the places they live in, and it becomes obvious just how revolutionary Johan and William’s affection for each other is. But is love enough, or does the summer night require a visit to the darkness of the sauna, or a bunch of testosterone?

J Shady (translated by Vilja Hynynen)