Staff Pick/ Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

In the far southeast of Estonia, in a traditional smoke sauna, a group of women from the Võro community come together to cleanse their bodies and share their stories. Through Anna Hints’ empathic eye, we enter into their intimate space and immerse ourselves among this collective of women. Between the confines of the smoke sauna, and the wilderness beyond where the women take breaks to dip in a nearby iced-over lake, what director Hints creates is truly experiential. In observing sauna rituals rooted in community, egalitarianism and wellbeing, we see what it means for this group of women to create space for each other: for communion, solidarity and healing as they each regain the strength they need to face the world outside.  

Content note: This film contains discussions and recollections of sexual violence and domestic abuse. 

 Event/ The caption-subtitled preview screening on Thu 12 Oct, will be followed by a live-captioned Q&A with director Anna Hints in partnership with Reclaim the Frame. This screening is not included in the HOME Film Pass