Savvusanna sõsarad / Smoke Sauna Sisterhood

A small wooden cabin in a forest in southern Estonia: inside, sitting around the smoking sauna stove, naked women of various ages. Within the safety of this space, they share thoughts and ideas about body image, their sometimes funny and sometimes traumatic experiences with men, and about life in a society that defines a woman's value either by her looks or her reproductive capacity. In a traditional Estonian smoke sauna, which is on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list, smoking is done in the truest sense of the word, with a ham hanging from the ceiling for that purpose. Anna Hints' documentary transpires almost entirely within the sauna hut, and uses dark, foggy visuals to offer a unique look at the female body. Snippets of faces and body parts underscore the words of the women, giving visibility to both their past experiences and, at the same time, revealing their strength. Song, music, and the hiss of the sauna create an enveloping soundscape that conveys the sense of being in the midst of the events.