This is a great film, not an entertaining one, but a moving one. And I guess it will not open so well for people other than those who are from Finland or nearby...
All this public nudity might be offending, especially when the people pictured are not Playboy models or the most handsome Hollywood stars. But this is because one have to understand that in Finnish sauna there is no nudity. People are naked, but in the eyes of those people it actually does not make any difference to that if they would be clothed. Sauna is sort of holy place where everyone is equal and where even men can vent their feelings, although otherwise it often is very difficult. And you can also open up to strangers, persons you have never met before and perhaps will never see after that. And that is what this film depicts very well; normally mostly introverted men share their deepest emotions in front of other people, naked, and in front of camera.
Also with all these sceneries and exotic inventive sauna settings this is a good summary of Finland and the people who life there. This summaries the whole mentality of the country.
I myself am a Finn living abroad and in troubled situations I really miss sauna, where I could really get into my deepest thoughts. In fact while sitting in my dark room and watching this film I could also imagine that I myself am there with these guys, hearing them and sharing my own problems in the nice heat of sauna. Guess I have to start searching for flight tickets right after this...
All this public nudity might be offending, especially when the people pictured are not Playboy models or the most handsome Hollywood stars. But this is because one have to understand that in Finnish sauna there is no nudity. People are naked, but in the eyes of those people it actually does not make any difference to that if they would be clothed. Sauna is sort of holy place where everyone is equal and where even men can vent their feelings, although otherwise it often is very difficult. And you can also open up to strangers, persons you have never met before and perhaps will never see after that. And that is what this film depicts very well; normally mostly introverted men share their deepest emotions in front of other people, naked, and in front of camera.
Also with all these sceneries and exotic inventive sauna settings this is a good summary of Finland and the people who life there. This summaries the whole mentality of the country.
I myself am a Finn living abroad and in troubled situations I really miss sauna, where I could really get into my deepest thoughts. In fact while sitting in my dark room and watching this film I could also imagine that I myself am there with these guys, hearing them and sharing my own problems in the nice heat of sauna. Guess I have to start searching for flight tickets right after this...