
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
Anna Hints / EE, FR, IS, 2023 / 89 min.
An intimate and poetic portrait of women who literally and figuratively bare all in a traditional Estonian sauna, where listening to traumatic stories from one another’s lives has a powerful healing effect.

Few places in the world are better suited for showing our vulnerabilities than the sauna. The women in this intimate documentary bare all, both literally and figuratively, in a remote spot in the freezing cold, somewhere in Estonia, where the smoke sauna tradition is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
The camera seems to be part of the group as it respectfully and affectionately records the women sharing their experiences—some of these are beautiful, while others are traumatic. No subject is taboo as the women talk of the stillbirth of a child, sexual abuse, coming out, domestic violence, sickness and recovery.
Touching close-ups in the sweltering sauna alternate with wide shots of the women running naked in the snow, kindling the fire, playing music and smoking pork. An elderly woman talks about the sexist traditions of her younger days, presenting a stark contrast with the intense sense of support and strength that the women feel in this safe, therapeutic sauna.
Pre film
Before Smoke Sauna Sisterhood you will see the short documentary film Skin Famine (4') by Lieza Röben from 2021. This intimate portrait shows the impact of the lack of a touch from Marijn. A woman in her mid-40s who knows she doesn't have long to live.
This is part of
Details
Director
Anna Hints
Production year
2023
Country
EE, FR, IS
Original title
Smoke Sauna Symphony
Length
89 min.
Language
none
Subtitles
ENG
Format
DCP
Part of
IDFA 2023
Documentary lovers, keep 9 through 19 November free in your calendar. The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam presents its 36th edition in cinemas throughout Amsterdam, including several special programmes in Eye.



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