Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

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1:54

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

2023

1h 29m

Documentary

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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.

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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

1:54

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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