In the far southeast of Estonia, a group of women from the Võro community come together hare their stories and to cleanse their bodies and in a traditional smoke sauna. Through the observance of rituals rooted in community and well-being, this empathetic documentary reveals what it means for these women to create a space for communion, solidarity, and healing.

Reviews

‘It’s an intense watch; at times infectiously hilarious, at others wrenchingly sad. For the film’s brief running time, there’s an emotional osmosis at play, in both sauna and cinema alike.’
★★★★
Wendy Ide, The Observer

‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood is a window into an enviable cultural practice of solidarity, as the safe communal space provides a place for gossip and laughter as well as the expression of pain.’
★★★★
Saskia Lloyd Gaiger, Little White Lies