Smoke Sauna - I segreti della sorellanza

This is a visually stunning film, shot at an Estonian Smoke Sauna and its surroundings, with cinematic footage throughout. The film is completely shot in Direct Cinema style. We are there with the women watching as the scenes take place. There are no interviews, no narration, only meticulously edited sequences that together tell a story that grows as the film advances, from childhood memories to traumas that must be exorcised in the intimate heat of the sauna. Masterfully done. As the personal stories are shared, we see a theme emerge: millennia of oppression of women. Because there's no narration or interviews, the theme emerges naturally and the film does not feel preachy: the individual stories are a part of a larger collective story.

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.

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.

This film moved me more than I was expecting. Following a group of women through the year, and with the focus of the practical and cultural significance of the sauna from birth to death, with elements of the spiritual, this was an intimate and often raw experience. The setting is beautiful and evocative of the lived experience for these women. Knowing more about Finland than Estonia, I enjoyed the similarities of language and culture. From the women's conversations, much is shared regarding societal expectations, the changing nature and attitudes of the society and the legacy of what has gone before.