By: Daniel P’Lopez
Photos by breaking Glass Pictures, Christian Geisnaes, Nicolai Lok
If you think you’ve seen every version of a queer coming-of-age romance, think again. Danish filmmaker Matias Broe is shaking up international cinema with Sauna, a film that blends tender intimacy, self-discovery, and Copenhagen cool with a raw honesty audiences are already buzzing about.
Fresh off its Sundance premiere and making its way to U.S. theaters on November 18, Sauna tells the story of Johan, who works at a sauna and unexpectedly falls for William, a trans man navigating his own space in the queer world. What unfolds is a love story that feels refreshingly modern — real, complex, messy, warm, and ultimately human.
“I wanted to make a film I would’ve wanted to see myself,” Matias shared. “Especially for queer people—it’s so important we see ourselves on the big screen.”
Sauna marks history as the first Danish film to feature a trans actor in a leading role, with breakout talent Nina Rasink bringing William to life. Nina, known for comedy in Denmark, brings just the right mix of charm and vulnerability — and the chemistry between the leads is one of the film’s beating hearts.
The role of Johan is played by rising star Melle Anderson, who delivers a beautifully nuanced performance that balances sensitivity and internal conflict.
Matias isn’t new to personal storytelling — he made his first film at 16, a deeply emotional documentary about his father’s struggles with alcoholism. That film won awards, bought him his first computer, and gave him the confidence to chase filmmaking fully.
“When you’re young and someone tells you you’re good at something, it changes your life,” he said.
That authenticity hasn’t left his work — if anything, Sauna proves he’s only leaning further into truth-driven filmmaking.
At its heart, Sauna is a love story — but it’s also a story about: Identity and belonging. Community vs. individuality within the LGBTQ+ world, Privilege and space — who gets access, and who feels welcome and the loneliness that can exist even in vibrant communities.
Matias emphasizes that queer culture isn’t monolithic. Every letter of LGBTQ+ carries different struggles, and the film highlights how crucial it is for the community to uplift, not fragment.
“If we don’t support each other’s journeys, are we really being queer?” he asked. “The we’re just fighting in out own small bubbles.”
Yes, the film has intimacy, as Matias said in his interview— and it’s intentional, vulnerable, and meaningful. Matias insists it isn’t shock value; it’s storytelling.
“Intimacy shows who these characters are psychologically,” he explained. “It’s about trying to understand love, loneliness, and belonging.”
In short… Sauna isn’t here to tiptoe. It’s here to feel.
While he’d love to tell more queer stories, his next project takes a surprising turn — a film centered around children. But don’t worry — as he says, his voice will always carry a queer perspective, even in unexpected places.
Meanwhile in Copenhagen? He’s preparing to direct his first stage play and passing wisdom to young film students. (Yes, he’s busy — apparently renting apartments is a full-time hobby too.)
Matias calls Sauna a movie for the “younger queer generation,” but it’s also an invite to audiences everywhere to learn, connect, and see love in a form too rarely portrayed on-screen.
It’s fresh. It’s tender. It’s bold without trying too hard.
And most of all — it’s human.
Grab a towel, grab your tissues, and step into Sauna when it hits U.S. theaters this November. Trust us — this heat is worth it.
You can follow Matias: @MATIASBROE