By John Corrado

Estonian filmmaker Anna Hints’ artful, unconventional documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood follows a group of women in Southern Estonia, who are gathered together in a traditional smoke sauna hidden deep in the woods.

Shot over several years, Hints follows a variety of subjects over the backdrop of changing seasons. As they sit naked together in the sauna, the women share intimate details of their lives, from abuse they have experienced, to shame that they have felt. This includes discussing subjects that are still considered taboo in their society, like divorce, childbirth, and reproductive health.

They are quite literally baring their all, both figuratively and emotionally (the film could have just as easily been called “women talking” to borrow the title of Sarah Polley’s similarly contained, conversational film). There is a spiritual element to the ancient smoke sauna practice as well, with the women chanting and cleansing themselves of unclean spirits.

The artful cinematography by Ants Tammik lingers over folds in flesh and steam from the water being poured over burning rocks, giving the film a moody, at times ethereal aesthetic. But the vulnerability on display is the most impressive aspect of the film, with the women speaking freely amongst themselves and opening up to the camera. It’s very much an art film, and even in the documentary space there isn’t a whole lot to compare it to. But this is what makes watching Smoke Sauna Sisterhood such a unique experience.

Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood opens exclusively in limited release at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto on January 26th. It’s being distributed in Canada by The Impact Series.