Character Relationship Map: Sauna

Characters

• Ben (played by Alex Rubin) — protagonist

  The anxious and ungainly teenage protagonist sent to a summer water polo camp, grappling with puberty, social anxiety, and existential fears of mortality.

• Old Man (played by Wayne Baldwin) — protagonist

  An elderly local or camp-adjacent figure, potentially serving as a reflective presence tied to the film's themes of aging and mortality.

• Dylan (played by Zachary Alexander Rice) — supporting
• Drew (played by Mitchell Douglas) — supporting

  A fellow teenage camper at the water polo camp, part of the peer group navigating adolescence and camp hierarchies.

• Trevor (played by Nick Gore) — supporting

  A fellow camper and peer, representing the broader social ecosystem of the camp where teenage dynamics play out.

• Jake (played by Dylan Darwish) — supporting

  A teenage participant in the summer camp, part of the cohort experiencing puberty and social pressures.

• Liam (played by Aidan Sullivan) — supporting

  A teenage attendee of the summer camp, part of the peer group facing the challenges of puberty and camp life.

• Sam (played by Jax Malcolm) — supporting

  A fellow camper at the water polo program, navigating the same transitional phase of adolescence.

• Coach (played by Greg Yoder) — supporting

  The water polo camp instructor responsible for training the teenagers, embodying the discipline and physical expectations of the setting.

• Greg (played by Matteo Zambetti) — supporting

  A fellow teenager at the water polo camp, navigating the same social hierarchies and physical demands.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Ben → Coach (Professional Strict Instructor) — Camp authority figure who enforces rigorous training and discipline.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Old Man → Coach (Conflict Ideological Opponent) — Clashes with the Coach over harsh disciplinary methods versus empathy.
• Ben → Greg (Social Camp Peer) — Squad member who participates in group drills and camp activities.
• Ben → Liam (Social Camp Peer) — Fellow camper who witnesses Ben's personal growth throughout the summer.
• Ben → Sam (Social Camp Peer) — Squad member who shares the team's collective struggles and victories.
• Ben → Jake (Social Camp Peer) — Fellow camper who interacts with Ben during daily camp routines.
• Ben → Trevor (Alliance Teammate) — Squad member who collaborates with Ben on pool strategies.
• Ben → Drew (Alliance Teammate) — Fellow water polo squad member who supports Ben during training.
• Ben → Dylan (Conflict Bully) — Primary antagonist who targets Ben with intimidation and aggression.
• Ben → Old Man (Alliance Confidant) — Share deep anxieties about mortality and puberty, forming a supportive bond.

Story Analysis

An anxious teenage boy faces bullying, puberty, and fears of mortality at a summer water polo camp.

Plot Progression

1. A Reluctant Summer — The boy's parents send him to a summer water polo camp. This decision places him in an unfamiliar social and physical environment.
2. Pressure Among Peers — At camp, the boy struggles against bullies. His social difficulties intensify his existing anxiety and fears.
3. The Changes of Adolescence — The boy also contends with puberty while trying to manage the demands of camp. His personal insecurity remains central to the experience.
4. Confronting Mortality — The camp experience brings the boy's fears of mortality into focus. His struggles become both social and existential.