This steamy Danish romantic drama offers an intimate insight into a relationship between two men from very different worlds, based on the novel by Mads Ananda Lodahl.

New to Copenhagen, Johan’s life revolves around Apollo, the hypermasculine gay sauna where he works and plays. Though he enjoys some nightlife debauchery, Johan wants something more, and finds it with William. Taking time off uni to focus on his transition, William surrounds himself with a close-knit network of queer and trans friends while he saves up for top surgery. As they introduce each other to their respective communities they clash against discrimination and lack of understanding. Can their relationship survive in a society governed by rigid ideas about gender and love?

Adapted for the screen by director Mathias Broe and William Lippert, Sauna marks the first Danish feature with a trans actor and character in a lead role. Mining issues of intra-community conflict, queer identity and class differences, the film explores how in queer life everything is coloured by political and social questions – even love.

Content advisory: this film contains depictions of transphobia and misgendering, and flashing/strobe lighting.

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