New This Week (01/26/2024): Four Daughters, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, & More!

By John Corrado

New releases for the week of January 26th, 2024.

Four Daughters. Eya Chikahoui playing herself. Nour Karoui playing Rahma Chikhaoui. Photo copyright, Tanit Films. Courtesy of Mongrel Media.

Theatrical Releases:

Four Daughters (TIFF Lightbox): This freshly Oscar-nominated documentary from Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania is a chilling and fascinating study of how radicalization takes hold. The film offers a formally audacious mix of documentary and dramatic reenactments, blending subjects and actors to tell the story of Olfa Hamrouni, a mother of four daughters in Tunisia, two of whom have disappeared. It’s disturbing but vital in its insight, and sadly all too relevant. (Full Review)

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema): This artful, unconventional documentary from Estonian filmmaker Anna Hints follows a group of women in Southern Estonia who are gathered together in a traditional smoke sauna hidden deep in the woods, sharing intimate details of their lives. The vulnerability on display is the most impressive aspect of this unique film, with the women speaking freely amongst themselves and opening up to the camera. (Full Review)

More Releases: Ru (Limited), Fighter (Limited), The Zone of Interest (Wide), Barbie (Re-Release)

Streaming Releases:

A Real Bug’s Life (Disney+), Masters of the Air (Apple TV+), Expats (Prime Video), Griselda (Netflix)