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Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

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1:54

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

Released Nov 24, 2023

1h 29m

Documentary

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

79%

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

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.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 18, 2024

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Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

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

Nov 29, 2023

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Sheri Linden

The Hollywood Reporter

Strikes a bold balance between intense intimacy and respectful distance.

Nov 27, 2023

Full Review

David Bax

Battleship Pretension

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.

May 13, 2025

Full Review

William Stottor

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

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.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 3, 2024

Full Review

Joshua Polanski

Boston Hassle

a considerably moving empathic film where the communal ritual becomes cathartically sacred and essentially human.

Jul 4, 2024

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Jonah K

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/31/24

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Bear P

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

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/19/24

Full Review

John H

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/29/24

Full Review

Javi _

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

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

Full Review

Tushar P

A film structured around the Smoke Sauna experience. Intimate, honest, raw and personal, even if you are not a part of the sisterhood, you can find yourself in the stories and the catharsis that is delivered in the ending. A confidently local south Estonian film, with the power to resonate globally.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/06/23

Full Review

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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

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