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‘Lesson Learned’ and ‘Under the Grey Sky’ Win at the 23rd BellaTOFIFEST International Film Festival!
‘Lesson Learned’ by Bálint Szimler won the On Air Main Competition, and ‘Under the Grey Sky’ by Mara Tamkovich won the Polish Competition From Poland. More »

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Steam of Life

Miesten vuoro · dir. Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen
Finland 2010, 81’

Document. It’s neither a therapist’s office nor a lover’s bed where Finnish men’s deepest feelings about life, love and family are brought to the surface: It’s the sauna. The film allows the viewer to become a fly on the wall as it listens in on men — naked men — talking to other men (or occasionally a grizzly bear) in the sanctuary of the country’s ubiquitous saunas. The sauna acts as a catalyst that makes a man open up to another. Body and soul are cleansed at the same time. Sauna rituals, such as vihta, löyly and beer, create an atmosphere conducive to pooling personal concerns.

Director:Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen
Screenplay:Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen
Cinematography:Färm Heikki, Kumpulainen Jani
Editing:Peltola Timo