Sundance winner “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” will have its Irish premiere on Sunday, 1st October at 1.30pm at the Irish Film Institute as part of the IFI Documentary Festival 2023. The film will also be shown at the Tin Jug Studio on Thursday, 12 October at 10pm as part of the OFFline Film Festival in Birr and in Lighthouce Cinema in Dublin.
Estonia’s traditional smoke sauna, inscribed in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, is an intimate space where women gather to not just cleanse their bodies, but also their souls. Filmed over 5 years, Anna Hints captures the unique environment of the smoke sauna, where women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences. Beautifully presented in painterly compositions, Hints creates an atmosphere where confessions are shared, and women heal by the power of community. The audience is invited to observe the rituals and join in this cathartic and unforgettable experience.