In the heart of the Estonian wilderness, nestled within the trees and next to a beautiful lake, unfolds the documentary 'Smoke Sauna Sisterhood' – a debut film by Anna Hints. Or rather, an experience, not just a film. It’s a very tangible journey into the sacred realms of intimacy, vulnerability and healing through the smoke sauna tradition which is part of the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The documentary had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023, where it won the Directing Award at the World Cinema Documentary Competition1.
At its core, 'Smoke Sauna Sisterhood' is a celebration of communal sharing through rituals connected to the body. In a space where darkness renders faces unseen and only voices are heard, bodies are also very tangibly felt. Here, nakedness is natural, a return to the essence of being, far removed from the objectification and the male gaze. (It’s an incredible film for men to watch and would offer insight into into the nuances of communal healing and power of vulnerability.) It is in this hot, dark space that stories embracing every bit of human emotion are shared and strength is regained, from deep-seated or even intergenerational trauma to moments of even deeper joy and laughter.
Made over seven years, Anna Hints crafted a sanctuary where she delves into the spiritual, connecting the ritual to elements like water, which mirrors the fluidity (frozen water like emotions melting away) and depth of our emotions. It's a reminder that we are part of nature, bound to its cycles and rhythms. This cinematic journey moves with the seasons, from the biting cold of winter to the rebirth of spring and bursts into the life-filled summer, echoing the cycles of healing and growth.
The bodies on the screen are like the most beautiful paintings. It’s a 90-minute experience of the most masterful use of light and shadow through smoke and water, bathing bodies in warm, radiant tones. 'Smoke Sauna Sisterhood' is not just a documentary; it's a call to embrace our lived experiences with all their complexities through our shared embodied existence. It's an invitation to explore the sacred spaces within us, to confront the darkness without fear and to find strength in vulnerability. As I watched, I was moved by the raw emotional intimacy and the unfiltered reality of moving through life in our bodies as a shared experience. There was out-loud laughter, there were tears, some pain but also an immense feeling of hope and freedom.
Having a sauna was a significant part of my childhood, as we had one at home. This film reminded me to look closer at our bodies and the embodied experience, inspiring me to curate a selection of pieces that resonate with these themes.
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THE COLLECTION
Below is a curation of items, selected from upcoming auctions, that celebrate the human form, ranging from the erotic to the platonic and embodying the many facets of love.
You can all respond to this email from your inbox and share your thoughts. Your message will reach me directly. If you watched the film, how did it make you feel?
For film lovers out there: technically, this film was almost impossible to make. It was filmed in very small, dark, wet and hot spaces - usually at 80°C! Lenses had to be pre-heated in a specific way and there were ice packs around the camera; only three crew members were allowed in the sauna at any one time. Yet, the soundscape and cinematography are exceptional! You can watch the director talk about the technicalities in this interview here (timestamped to already start at 21:45):