An immersive manifesto film celebrating female solidarity and sauna culture in Northern Europe. Directing Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and Estonia's Oscar bid
The sauna rituals performed by women from the Võru people living in southern Estonia are so unique that they were included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Director Anna Hints, in an almost immersive manner, takes us to the very heart of this world: her documentary performance film is an exploration of local folklore, glorifying the healing power of the sauna, and on the other hand, a hymn to the spiritual and physical strength of the women who visit it. Cinematographer Ants Tammik's cameras, in a hyper-intimate but extremely prosaic manner, focus on naked bodies, drops of sweat running down the skin, and birch branches with which the heroines whip each other on the back. In the process of cleansing their bodies, women find time to cleanse their souls—and share their most intimate things with each other. Heartbreaking stories about experiences of sexual assault, loss of loved ones, confused sexuality, and depression coexist with touching and funny chatter about strange dates, great love, and hope for the best. There is no judgment in the sauna, only acceptance.
Original language: Estonian Subtitles: Belarusian | English