Sundance Title ‘Sauna’ Trailer, Mathias Broe’s Film Which Gives Denmark Its First Trans Lead: ‘This Community Wants – and Needs – to See Themselves on the Screen’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Mathias Broe’s film “Sauna” has made history as it was chosen for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance.

For the very first time, a leading character in a Danish feature film is portrayed by a transgender individual – a choice that led to the creation of this motion picture, as the director confides to EbMaster.

In Denmark, there aren’t many trans actors available, so for a lead role in a full-length production, experience is crucial. That’s why we selected Nina Rask, who is a trans man, well-known comedian, and actor,” Broe explains to EbMaster.

In the end, we opted for non-professional actors from the queer community to play minor roles, and we thoroughly researched within this community to ensure authenticity. Crafting queer narratives can be delicate, as you want to get everything right, but we realized: ‘A good movie won’t come from getting everything ‘right.’ Instead, we must develop a genuine story with real people.”

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“To make our production as true-to-life as possible, we selected non-professional queer actors for minor roles and immersed ourselves in the community to gain insights. When it comes to telling queer stories, it’s crucial to get everything right, but we found out: ‘We won’t create a good film if we do everything ‘right.’ Instead, we need to focus on crafting an authentic story with real characters.”

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“To ensure our portrayal was as genuine as possible, we recruited non-professional queer actors for minor roles and delved into the community’s culture. When it comes to telling queer tales, you want to get everything just right, but we discovered: ‘We won’t make a good film if we do everything ‘right.’ What matters is creating an honest story with real individuals.

Rask teams up with Magnus Juhl Andersen, portraying the role of Johan, who serves as a receptionist in Copenhagen’s single gay sauna. An intriguing twist occurs when he encounters transgender character William. Things become complex, but they also start to improve.

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In the cast, Magnus Juhl Andersen appears as Johan, a receptionist at the sole gay sauna in Copenhagen. When he interacts with transgender individual William, the plot takes a turn for the complicated yet promising.

Broe, who is part of the queer community, shares that during filmmaking, their partner began transitioning. Initially identifying as a typical heterosexual gay man, Broe’s personal identity has evolved over time, mirroring the broadening scope of their surroundings. When considering the LGBTQ+ community under one umbrella, people often assume the same challenges, but individuals face distinct struggles in their fights,” said Broe, demonstrating this contrast – through a love story.

A sauna can be an interesting location for self-discovery, especially for transgender men, as they may face difficulties in gaining entry due to societal norms. Despite identifying as such, both in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity, it can still prove challenging to access these spaces.

William Lipperts, working alongside Broe, created the film “Sauna,” which is adapted from Mads Ananda Lodahl’s novel. The production company is Nordisk Film Production, led by Mads-August Hertz, with funding from New Danish Screen at the Danish Film Institute, DR, and Nordisk Film Distribution. TrustNordisk manages sales, and they have released a trailer exclusively to EbMaster.

Broe remarked that this group yearns to see themselves depicted on-screen. During our trial run, someone mentioned, ‘I cried for two hours because it was the first time I saw such images,'”

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Broe pointed out that this community strongly desires to be represented on screen. In our test screening, someone expressed, ‘I wept for two hours as it was the first time I’d seen these types of images,’

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During a test screening, Broe observed that this community is eager to see themselves portrayed on screen. One viewer commented, ‘I cried for two hours because I hadn’t seen these images before.’

In my perspective, constructing bridges is truly impactful. I yearn to engage in discussions with individuals who are inquisitive, and I aim to make them feel welcomed into this world. I partnered with a screenwriter who possesses a knack for humor and a producer who may not be part of the queer community, yet he’s incredibly open-minded. This collaboration significantly expanded the scope of our film.

Broe aimed to foster understanding among his audience for a community often overlooked politically. Additionally, he highlighted some of the struggles they faced internally.

In a different phrasing:

“Younger people are discussing gender identity and the importance of using inclusive pronouns, while some older individuals struggle to comprehend this or find it silly. However, in our eagerness to adapt, we should not forget the hardships that the previous generation faced,” he contended.

As a movie enthusiast, I found it intriguing how they kept the sauna’s timeless charm from the 1970s intact. It seems that if a culture doesn’t experience change or growth, it can become trapped in its own era.

Trying to depict “loneliness within the cis gay community,” he opted for a somber mood.

Raised amidst the Danish countryside with a father battling alcoholism, I also identified as queer. The team behind our movie, specifically my producer and scriptwriter, infused the narrative with warmth and wit. Reflecting on this, I confess that I’m naturally attracted to stories of darkness.

Initially, Johan was portrayed as the “newcomer who happens to be gay.” However, we aimed to steer clear of the conventional coming-of-age story. Instead, we’re peeling back his layers to reveal an enigmatic character. Is he someone to be wary of or admired? His actions stem from a place of love, but his inability to listen creates issues. Specifically, he fails to acknowledge William’s requirements.

Nevertheless, the allure remains compelling. However, the director found it a challenge, even a struggle, to handle the film’s explicit sexual content.

We reduced explicit displays of affection, but our intention wasn’t to reveal much skin; rather, it was about portraying the narrative accurately. It’s crucial to explore diverse representations of intimacy and various bodies interacting intimately. I haven’t encountered such portrayals often in films, which may be why it took me time to comprehend my sexuality. Now, being with someone who is transgender, I too am undergoing a transition.

In “Sauna,” sex is “awkward and messy, beautiful and vulnerable.” 

Johan and William are attempting to connect delicately. Here’s an idea: when individuals lack a connection with their physical selves, particularly their emotions associated with attraction, it can make explicit content seen on screen feel intensely overwhelming. It’s not just about being exposed to it; rather, encountering such images in public spaces, or perhaps while with family members or partners, may provoke a sense of unease. I believe this might be the reason why people express apprehension towards sexual scenes in movies.

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2025-01-27 20:17