'In Ashes' follows Christian, an awkward, recently single 20-something, as he navigates the emotional wreckage of his first break-up. Turning to hookup apps in a desperate bid for connection, Christian spirals into a series of fleeting sexual encounters, each one a reflection of his struggle to mend the void left by lost love.
Lust, obsession, and vulnerability intertwine in this raw Danish drama, inspired by Poulsen’s own experiences.
Check out the Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival programme.
We sat down with Poulsen to discuss the film’s candid portrayal of queer intimacy, the emotional complexities behind casual sex, and what it means to find oneself in the aftermath of heartbreak.
This film is inspired by your own experiences. What was it like translating such personal emotions and events into a screenplay and ultimately onto the screen?
Writing a deeply personal film is about daring to be honest with yourself and others. It’s about stepping into feelings and situations that can be embarrassing, tender, and shameful. Perhaps it’s also about, as a filmmaker, being naive enough to see the audience as a kind, empathetic, and loving entity that doesn’t judge what is true and vulnerable. Only later do you start to feel fear and tenderness toward the material. The process has been about identifying the most interesting emotional moments from my own life and combining them with other experiences and stories I’ve heard in the LGBT+ community.
The story delves into the heartbreak of a first love. How did you approach depicting this universal yet deeply personal experience in a way that resonates with a wide audience?
The pain of love is at the heart of most great stories. People want to love and be loved. I trusted that if I went all the way with the main character, Christian – so that we could clearly see his desperation, nostalgia, and eagerness – then the audience would be able to see themselves in him. I couldn’t have done this without the lead actor, Rex Leonard, who was the crucial element in bringing this story to life.
The film portrays the protagonist’s use of hook-up apps. What was your intention in exploring this aspect of modern queer dating culture, and how did you balance its complexities – connection, liberation, and sometimes emptiness?
I met my own partner on a dating app. That was my path to love, just as it is for many LGBT+ people. But when I was writing 'In Ashes', I used dating apps in a very different way, and I saw how they led to a lot of pain and loneliness for myself and others. I wanted to paint a picture of how dating apps place a great deal of responsibility on the individual user.
Read our interview with Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival Director Lisa Rose.
'In Ashes' offers a raw and intimate look at a gay man’s journey through heartbreak and self-discovery. How important was it for you to bring authentic queer representation to the screen?
I see myself as a filmmaker first and a queer filmmaker second. It feels natural for me to tell love stories about queer people because I am one myself – but that’s not the main purpose of my storytelling. I believe queer films have a place when their themes and perspectives extend beyond their own queer aspect. That said, there are many important reasons to represent queer people in film.
The film is described as raw and deeply personal. How did you decide on the visual and narrative style to convey Christian's emotional journey?
It quickly became clear to me that the film should be shot in a very free and open way, allowing space for the actors. I love the documentary feel, so my cinematographer, Anton Underbjerg, and I developed a shared visual language early on. We wanted to make room for improvisation and movement in the scenes to bring out a sense of realism and authenticity in the performances.
As a Danish drama, how does the cultural backdrop of Denmark influence the story and Christian’s experiences? Are there specific aspects of Danish queer life you hoped to highlight?
As a queer person in Denmark, you live a relatively privileged life in the sense that it is one of the safest and most open places in the world to be LGBT+. For that reason, 'In Ashes' doesn’t focus on discrimination and hate crimes (though it touches on them briefly), but rather on the human and intimate aspects. I only know queer life in Denmark, so the film is a very honest portrayal of exactly that.
What do you hope audiences take away from Christian’s chaotic quest for love and self-understanding? Were there specific emotions or reflections you wanted to evoke?
I hope the audience sees themselves in Christian – for better or worse. I hope the film brings hope to those who feel hopeless and strengthens their belief in love and commitment. I also hope it encourages people to laugh at themselves – to laugh at the awkward situations that the human desire for love and closeness often lead to.
Were there any particular challenges you faced while crafting this story, especially given its personal nature? How did you navigate those challenges during the filmmaking process?
I think the greatest resistance I faced in making such a personal film came from myself. Many people hate themselves far more than they hate others.
How does it feel to have 'In Ashes' included in Queer Screen’s Mardi Gras Film Festival, and what significance does it hold for you as a filmmaker to showcase your work in a queer-focused festival?
It is a huge honour for 'In Ashes' to be screened at Queer Screen’s Mardi Gras Film Festival. It’s a festival with a long history and one that has taken great responsibility in promoting and expanding queer cinema. There seem to be many beautiful and interesting films being shown at the festival this year, so I feel very humbled to be selected with a small film like 'In Ashes', and I’m excited to experience the audience’s reactions to the film for the first time.
'In Ashes' plays Event Cinemas (George Street, Sydney) on 20 February as part of Queer Screen's Mardi Gras Film Festival.
