Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

If they had used the Sauna Radar portal, such problems would not have happened. I'm kidding=) But seriously, "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood" feels like a work of reflective art, weaving stories of relatable pains and joys as women, allowing all involved to heal and cleanse together. As a viewer, it's comforting to see the different layers of healing found universally.

A tidal wave of emotion that builds and builds into a crashing catharsis. While most documentaries thrive on the strength of their story, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood is powerful simply because it accords a group of women the space to tell theirs.

The level of pretending some people have to take their fake extent of importance is at madhouse levels. Watching people malform and twist their personalities like this on display, only to trick others in a silly way, as an adult pass time too, is eye opening. I never understood that people can take things so far, for absolutely so little progress, growth or improvement. The is Growth Grifting or Growth Scamming. Something different entirely.

I think this is a real world depiction of mental failings and sick people with too much attention (as that's part of the allure, most mature and responsible viewers are as "I don't know why this is being filmed, it's so senseless and non-serious, but it's incredible that it's being filmed so that's why i'm watching this uncanny spectacle of waste and ingratitude), as it doesn't lead to anything beneficial to the collective or the greater good.

These creatures only seem to live for themselves and that would make them heinous experiences to interact with in person. Despite the artistic cinematography. Sorry, I wasn't born two minutes ago morons. I had to give it ten stars because I'm impressed how far bad people can take it.

Set in South Estonia, the film explores the old tradition of smoke sauna and chooses to do so in the context of women's solidarity: when they perform the sauna ritual together, they have nothing to hide. So they open up and tell their stories, crying out their pain and fears, sometimes they sing and get out to bathe in the lake (even when it's icy! - they cut a hole in the ice), but most often they just let each other get it off their chest and just listen. By this listening they teach us to listen too, with no judgement but with a lot of empathy and compassion and an open heart. The body is washed, the ritual is performed, now it's the turn for the pain to go. And if it comes again, which it definitely will, they know where to go.

Very intimate, empowering and full of revelation.

Saw this at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

"Smoke Sauna Sisterhood" is a documentary about the darkness of a smoke sauna, women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences, washing off the shame trapped in their bodies and regaining their strength through a sense of communion. This documentary is pretty strange and weird, but I really like this film.

Throughout, the visual presentation and sound designs helps to capture the essence of a sauna, tone, and environment of Estonia. The words expressed from the participants are interesting as they helped to provide quite memorizing discussions about womanhood and their bodies. Each direction felt like the film was taking a half documentary and half narrative type style with beautiful soundtrack and writing throughout.

The idea of people going in saunas to have spiritual experiences is quite fascinating.

This won the Directing, Screenwriting and Editing award for the World Dramatic Documentary Competition and I can see why. The writing, directing and style of editing is really good and the award was well-deserved.

Rating: A-

No pun intended - this is a sisterhood, just not the one I had seen a movie about a while ago. Actually just to be clear, the title (which I liked and made me want to watch it, even without having any clue what it would be about) tells us what this will be about ... a Sauna sisterhood ... which also means you will be seeing a lot of nudity. If that is something that makes you feel uncomfortable ... it is not sexualized in case you wonder .. but it is out there (sorry for the pun) ... well maybe you should not watch the movie.

This is more about life affirming, but also quite heavy topics. Stuff you may or may not discuss during the cleansing of the body can occur. It is about the women that were filmed. It feels like a movie almost (it is a documentary) .. because it is well edited I reckon. Be sure you want to listen or just watch what is happening ... there is calm, but there is also some storm(y topics) ... be advised and act or watch accordingly.