Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

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1:54

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

2023

1h 29m

Documentary

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Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In the darkness of smoke sauna, women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences. Through a sense of communion, women wash off the shame trapped in their bodies and regain their strength.

Critics Consensus

Running the gamut from tears to laughter, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood finds cinematic poetry in the simple act of observing conversation.

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Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

09/18/2024

4/5

The moist footprints, loose towels, meditative chanting, and chiming laughter of the women in the film all lend us their own poignancy simply by being there.

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Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

11/29/2023

It's worth seeing, but it's way over arty.

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Sheri Linden

The Hollywood Reporter

11/27/2023

Strikes a bold balance between intense intimacy and respectful distance.

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Aaron Murray

Loud and Clear Reviews

Mar 3

4/5

Anna Hints directs with such a comforting touch that even when faced with its darkest moments, the film comes through as a touching exploration of what ties us all together.

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David Bax

Battleship Pretension

05/13/2025

Unfortunately, as it often the case with documentaries that fail, Hints appears to have entered the sauna with her camera already knowing what she hoped to capture.

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William Stottor

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

09/03/2024

5/5

This is staggeringly good documentary filmmaking, and Hints artfully sketches something truly unique and absorbing, containing evocative sound design by Tanel Kadalipp and graceful editing by Tushar Prakash.

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Jonah K

@RT99883862 07/31/2024

an incredibly intimate sensory experience. a level of immersion that allows you to listen to these stories as if they are being told by the person sitting right next to you.

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Bear P

@RT81334830 04/19/2024

Some of the conversations from sauna stay with you long after you have watched this film.

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John H

@jhritz 01/27/2024

A tighter edit, narration, and resolution would help this engaging but discouraging film.

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Javi _

@RT19027144 01/22/2024

A great journey to the traditions, culture and partially historical elements of the country.

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Anna Hints

Director

Kadi Kivilo

Self

Sandra Lepik

Self

Maria Meresaar

Self

Anna Hints

Writer

Marianne Ostrat

Producer

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the darkness of smoke sauna, women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences. Through a sense of communion, women wash off the shame trapped in their bodies and regain their strength.

Director: Anna Hints
Producer: Marianne Ostrat
Screenwriter: Anna Hints, Anna Hints
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Alexandra Film, Ursus Parvus, Kepler22 Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Estonian
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 24, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 23, 2024
Runtime: 1h 29m