Miesten vuoro (2010) User Reviews

A very touching, important film

[Kaukomarsu · 9/10 · 9 April 2010]

A documentary that covers just about the whole emotional spectrum. The idea is simple: the filmmakers follow Finnish men in the sauna and let them talk about their lives, and they talk, punctuated with silence. They share their life's stories, they talk about their children, they talk about lost loves, dreams and hopes. We see a lot of different men in different saunas and in different places in their lives.

I had heard praise about this film before seeing it, but after the film I was still surprised. The film is immensely touching, and I noticed most of the audience (consisting, of, to my surprise, mostly of men) was in tears when the lights came back on. This film says something very important about Finnish men, and Finnish culture in general. That even though not much may be said, the understanding, the compassion, and the friendship are still there.

In the best Finnish documentary tradition the film also has a lighter and funnier side. Some scenes will make you laugh in awe, some will leave you in tears.

The Finnish Catharsis

[TheEmperorsBride · 9/10 · 13 November 2010]

Having read raving reviews about 'Miesten vuoro' (Steam of Life), which reportedly has reduced many viewers to tears, I expected much from this hauntingly beautiful documentary about Finnish masculinity, the sauna culture, and male vulnerability. The movie delivered everything I expected from it, and more; it's a gripping, genuinely moving portrayal of the sensitive side of rough men who have been raised to hide their emotions.

The concept is rather simple; a variety of ordinary Finnish men talking about highly emotional moments of their lives in saunas. The men represent various different age groups and occupations, but in the context of the film their roles in the society are almost irrelevant. In the sauna, the men shed their clothes, social masks, and inhibitions, and bare the true, raw emotions behind their tough exteriors. Clothes and occupations can only tell so much about a person. The bare, life-shaped bodies of these men - some old and some young, some fat and some skinny, some well-built and others filled with scars - say so much more. And beneath both their clothes and their skins, the men are very much alike.

The stories the men tell vary between heart-warming and heart-breaking; they talk about parenthood and childhood, of friendship and marriage, of birth and of death. Many of the men talk about their children, and for me both the tragic and the happy stories of fatherhood stood out as the most touching scenes of the movie.

It's very difficult to make a movie about such an emotional subject matter without being overly sentimental, but 'Miesten vuoro' manages to do just that. The scenes are very intimate, but also properly aloof. The beautiful score and gorgeous images of the rough wilderness and snowy cities support the emotional content perfectly without drenching the movie in needless sap. There are also splashes of tender humour scattered around the film, which makes it vibrant and balanced.

There's something cathartic about watching the men open up, reveal their emotions, and wash themselves. It doesn't take a genius to point out the metaphorical connection between emotional and physical purification through bathing and talking. It's like a religious rite; in 'Miesten vuoro', the sauna is a place of meditation for men who cannot bare their hearts anywhere else.

The silent gender of a silent people

[Kiiskinen-Osku · 9/10 · 16 March 2011]

I'm a simple guy as far as movies go. Seagal movies are my favorites, followed closely by Ferrell-movies and such. I'm not generally into movies that are supposedly deep or emotional. Directing, acting, characters and pretty much everything can be sacrificed for the sake of entertainment.

Watching 'Steam of Life', however, brought tears to my eyes. I was not entertained, I was moved.

It's not entirely because of the stories the men shared. I know a lot of sad stories, and sad things happen all around the world, all the time. It's the way you can relate to the men. We are all different, but we have one thing in common: Sauna, and what sauna represents.

"Boys don't cry" In sauna, however, we can. And we have. There is a place in the world where we can stop trying to live up to other people's expectations. Where we can drop the mask, wash away the makeup (figuratively speaking) get the s*** off our chests.

I could speak objectively, about directing and camera angles and whatnot, but I honestly don't think it's necessary. What this movie represents is more important.

I would however like to mention the story about a grandad who chopped wood for grandma. That was one of the most beautiful things I have heard in a very long time.

I, a Seagal fan, will give this movie as many stars as I will ever give any movie, 9. Highly recommended. Finally it's men's turn.

touching and real

[mihkal · 1 November 2010]

Finns themselves tend to believe (both men and women) in a stereotype, that men really do not discuss about their feelings, at least not with other men. This movie proves the opposite, and can encourage those with difficulties to open themselves to their friends and maybe, just maybe lower the suicide numbers in Finland.

http://tinyurl.com/36d8jum

and even more important, to help the next generations to talk more. this is a movie, that no sound person leaves without tears in their eyes.

the stories seem first 'boring', and a bit slow. but if you let yourself slow down and understand, that these are true stories by true men, and focus on how these guys are sharing their stories almost without noticing the camera at all, you will learn a lot about 'man' and men in particular...

Real Men Have Emotions

[robinsok-303-839911 · 8/10 · 24 April 2012]

Did you know saunas have play a huge role in Finnish culture and history? The earliest saunas appeared around the 5th century in Finland. After a hard day at work men would go into the sauna for relaxation and to wind down for the evening. In the past, Finnish women would give birth and lived in the sauna with the newborn for a few days. Today proper sauna protocol is being quiet and considerate so everyone can relax. Finnish people are not known for being emotionally vulnerable, but this film shows a different, soft side to masculinity. The film Steam of Life follows men who sit in the Sauna and talk about their everyday, happy memories, love, and life struggles.

The Steam of Life is one of few films showing a soft side of masculinity. Men are able to talk about life difficulties such as losing children, child visitation, love agony, and life stories. Usually directors have men act emotionless and hard core. This is the first film I have watched that have men talk about their soft sides, and as a result, I learned a lot from these men. The man who was trying to get custody or visitation with his children moved me. Films usually show women begging the fathers of their children to spend time with their children, but Steam of Life is not a stereotypical film. No two people have similar lives but each person faces individual and unique struggles. Not knowing you are alone and other people struggle with life is an incredible relief. Even though I can't personally relate to most the stories, I felt like I could understand where they were coming from and understand their situation. For example, I can't relate to the man whose child died and he talked with other parents who went through the same thing, but the way he told the story made me felt like I had lost a child and was coping with the grief. Each man talks honestly about his unique life. Even though this a serious film, every story is not sad and depressing but some have sweet and happy stories. In general this film makes the viewer realize that everyone has their ups and downs because life is a roller coaster.

Actively listening is not possible one hundred percent of the time. What really struck me is how well each man listened. I know I am guilty of not listening when people are talking, but the men were engaged and actively listening to the speaker. This is so great because the men get to tell their stories to everyone who watches the documentary and the other men in the sauna encourage the viewer to actively pay attention. It is possible that the men were actively listening so well because they were acting for the camera, but I believe they were listening. I learned so much about body language and nonverbal clues just from watching people listen.

The film uses no special effects or techniques because the main focus is the bare truth of life. Some of the men are not wearing anything showing vulnerability and confidence. The camera does not hide or conceal anything. Also, the camera does not just focus on the man speaking, but the camera shows the man speaking and the men listening. I was surprised that the men were so relaxed even though there were cameras right in front of them. Personally, I would never let a whole camera crew in while I was naked in a sauna. I couldn't tell my life stories to strangers-especially when naked! Therefore I think the men in this documentary have great self confidence and had to have been dedicated to the documentary. I felt like I was in the sauna and the men were telling me their personal life stories.

In conclusion this documentary is very emotional. As the men sit and sweat in the sauna they cleanse themselves from their innermost secrets and emotions. This film made me realize what is important in life: friends, faith, and family. These three things provide a support network to help through the toughest times in life. In addition to the inside of saunas, the film shows the beautiful outdoors in Finland. The music helps build the emotional intensity, but it is not overdone and melodramatic. My favorite type of literature is personal memoirs and journals, but The Steam of Life is so much better than a memoir or journal because hearing the stories with emotions nothing is left to the imagination. Overall The Steam of Life gives an unique point of view to life because the film exclusively uses men who are in touch with their emotions.

Steam of Life sizzles to a calm

[drumgirlelena · 8/10 · 28 April 2014]

A naked man sits thoughtful on a wooden bench. He leans forward to scoop water out of a bucket, throwing it onto the scorching hot rocks. He leans back, the water sizzling into steam as he tells his slow and solemn story. You could almost imagine the story is just for you. The same man sits on a porch surrounded by nature. He continues to speak as mosquitos buzz around the camera. The buzzing is almost annoying, except you can tell that this is his life, this is his comfort zone, and you fall into it. Back in the sauna, he slaps himself repeatedly with vihta and sits back again, waiting for a sweat to break across his forehead. The steam almost escapes through the screen.

Vivid scenes such as this are the foundation of Steam of Life (2010), or Miesten vuoro. The film, by Joonas Berghäll and Mika Hotakainen, is a striking documentary, illuminating Finnish sauna culture through tales of the men who sweat for leisure. The men tell pieces of their stories, describing evolutions of broken to full lives and back again. Topics covered include childhood abuse, lost custody and visitation of children, prison sentences, love, aging, military service, loss, friendship, companionship and bear-ownership – yes, bear-ownership – among other things. There is not an issue passed over when it comes to sauna talk for these men.

It is more than just talking though. The men drink, cry and laugh as they tell their stories, sharing in a way that many thought they might never be able. As the film progresses, then men share the lessons learned from their anecdotes, and it all comes together near the end when one man sums up what Sauna culture fulfills.

"When I was younger, I thought you should manage everything alone… But later I realized that being alone is the hardest thing. Knowing that you don't have to go through it alone helps."

And that more or less sums up the point of the film, it seems, and the placement at the end would support this. The film tells us that life is meant to be shared, and for Finnish men, the sauna is where that happens.

While the stories are the core of the film, technical elements help to get the point across. I saw a noteworthy parallel between the editing of the film and the way the men told their life stories. The cycle follows as such: A man sits peacefully in a sauna. He slaps himself with vihta to improve circulation. He throws water onto the stones, and the sizzling breaks the peace, but it calms. And as soon as it calms, he throws water on it again. Every bit of water that hits the rocks makes the man sweat a little bit more, and relief comes as the steam relaxes his body. Once the man is done telling his story, the film cuts to a peaceful nature scene, underscored by music.

Where's the parallel? Well, in life, a man sits peacefully. He does what he can to improve his life. But then something happens and it breaks the peace. All the man can do is wait until peace comes again and brings relief. And then comes the music, which symbolizes peace in harmony – people coming together as they do in the end of the film to find common peace. The music is a respite from the funny, the sad, the infuriating. It is the point where men can come together and face their trials and triumphs as a community.

There are dozens of quotes in the film that further this idea of community, most coming at the end of each man's story. Starting at the beginning, some are as follows: "It's good that I can tell you." "We could cry together. I'm always crying alone." "I've always had empty pockets. Now I have my family and empty pockets." "But I just had to carry on, and you get the strength for it as you go along." "That's when I realized that love comes in different forms." "I have to take it one day at a time" "I always thought that life is ruled with rationale and theories and intellect and head… Then you lose your child, and there is no reason, it's all pure emotion."

So these men find solace in their discoveries, challenging as the outcome of each story may be. They find peace in community, family, perseverance and relinquishing control to emotion. The film does more than just display Finnish sauna culture. It teaches its viewers to learn from both these men and their experiences, but also their own experiences. It also shows that sometimes you have to be beyond the difficulties of life to find clarity and it may take a remote place of peace, like a sauna in Finland, to really get to that point.

I give this film an eight out of ten. It tells a great story, and a great many stories at that, and shows a part of life in a corner of the world that I didn't know about. It's educational, informative and interesting. The film accomplishes what it sets out to do, and if you are looking for a tranquil film that will make you think, you've found it. However if you're looking for an entertaining, light-hearted comedy, you won't find it in Steam of Life. You will simply find a couple dozen men pondering life – naked, mind you.

As clear as it gets

[tero-462-145836 · 9/10 · 16 December 2012]

I had heard about this movie before, so I knew what to expect. But still it managed to make a clean cut like a hot knife through butter.

Being a Finnish ex-pat in Thailand it brought back memories, raw and uncut. And in some strange way made me feel proud of my heritage. Yes, I have built a sauna here in tropics.

Excellent. No corners cut. But I won't give it a 10 because of the one thing that is missing: Joy. That too is shared inside the confines of the sanctity of the sauna.

That said, I truly hope there won't be a sequel. The turn is up and it was well used.

A steam of emotion...

[nolans-941-360842 · 8/10 · 8 May 2014]

It's a concept that seems both bizarre and confronting - watching Finnish men sit in a sauna and listening to them talk about their lives. We witness an emotional and physical steam. The premise is so basic that it comes as a shock just how moving this documentary turns out to be. 'Steam of Life' is a 2010 Finnish documentary directed by Joonas Berghall and Mika Hotakainen. They film men as they talk about their lives in a way that is sometimes painfully slow for the audience, and at the same time painfully difficult for the men. They talk about their families, those that they love, their dreams and aspirations. We see just as many unique saunas as we see unique souls that have been severely affected by the rigors and demands of life. It is a deeply moving documentary, both for the men who tell their stories and for the audience who listens to them. The sauna is a haven of physical and emotional release. And in our journey from sauna to sauna around the country, we listen to incredible stories and witness unique individuals that remind us of the complexities of humanity.

Perhaps the most confronting aspect of the film, initially, is that the men are completely naked. This conveys the vulnerability of the men who defy Finnish stereotypes to open up emotionally to the camera. The focus on the men as human beings, without special effects, shows us that that documentary does not intend to hide any aspects of the individuals. The directors also utilize the technique of framing the man speaking and the men listening in one camera shot, which has the effect of making the audience feel like they are in the sauna with the men and listening to their stories in an intimate environment.

The use of saunas in the film reflects their deeply held importance in Finnish culture. Saunas have great cultural significance and as we can see in the film, there are numerous styles and locations of saunas. These saunas provide Finnish people with a sense of community and belonging - it is a place where they can physically be revitalized and emotionally find a release. It seems fair that saunas almost hold a spiritual significance for the Finnish in the sense that they are a sanctuary. They are a place where any kind of person, with any history, can find solace and peace.

The stories that the men tell are deeply personal and moving. For example, some men talk about the pain of losing a child after a bitter divorce, others talks about the death of those they loved, while one man talks about his stepfather beating him as a child. The directors juxtapose light-hearted and comedic vignettes to create an emotional roller coaster that even further engages the audience. Perhaps the best example of this is when one man talks about a relationship with a companion that he adores. The audience can only be surprised when a brown bear looms into the frame and is presented as the companion that the man was talking about. The man's conversation with his bear, Juuso, is moving: "Right Juuso. You were only a boy when we had our sauna. A very little boy… Left without washing, did you? Yes, that's right. The bear has become a real friend to me. It's an intelligent animal, learns very fast. And it is a true, loyal friend indeed. Right, another one gone. This is the name of the game." His story might not be the norm, but it further emphasizes the main theme of the documentary - every individual has a story that is incredible and completely unique to them.

'The Steam of Life' is a wonderful exploration of Finnish culture, as well as the deep complexities of the individual. I enjoyed the film thoroughly. The simplicity and rawness of the men talking about their lives was unique and refreshing, and it allowed the audience to connect deeply with the individuals in the film. I found myself completely immersed during the emotionally moving stories that were told, as well as amused by the lighter moments that were strewn throughout.

I would most certainly recommend this film. It is like no documentary I have ever seen before, and the audience is engaged throughout. Additionally, it communicates strong messages about the nature of life and humanity, and how we are all united by the complexities of our past experiences. 'The Steam of Life' is most certainly worth viewing. It is an emotional roller coaster for all involved.

A shockingly real Finnish documentary

[lambb · 6/10 · 22 April 2012]

There are over two million saunas in Finland-an average of one for each household. If walls could talk, as the saying goes, the walls of these saunas would have hundreds of millions of stories like the ones in this film to tell. Steam of Life was more real and revealing than I expected it to be in many ways. The stereotype that men, especially those from Nordic countries, are more stoic and less emotional is completely negated by this film. When I think of the typical Nordic male, I think of someone hardened by years of harsh weather and the attitude of "keep your private life private" commonly held in that part of the world. Steam of Life showed me the exact opposite. It is an interesting film about Finnish men baring it all-literally and metaphorically.

Although nudity is common in Nordic films, the nudity in this documentary shocked me a little bit. Perhaps I was expecting less of it because I had the idea of a more formal interview-based documentary in mind. Perhaps it was because nudity in films is usually sexual. In the end, I realized that the camera angles the filmmakers used were intentional. The men telling their stories weren't hiding anything, so the cameras weren't going to either. Their bodies also told a story of their lives-some fit, some neglected, some old and worn, others young. It makes sense that they decided to use such a powerful metaphor. I just think they could've used less to get the point across.

While many of the stories were quite touching, there were a couple of anecdotes I really felt drawn to. I enjoyed the story one man told about his grandparents, and more specifically his grandfather. As a boy, he and his grandpa always chopped and stacked wood for the woodshed. This is how he remembers his grandfather-a man who was always chopping wood. Later in life, his grandpa gets dementia and moves to a nursing home. Even though he didn't always remember who the people were who visited, he always asked about how big his woodpile was. One day, when the man who was telling the story visited his grandfather and filled him in on the status of the woodpile, the old man started to cry and apologize. The storyteller later realized that his grandfather was trying to stockpile enough wood to provide for his wife for the rest of her life. I found this story of love and dedication very sweet. It reminded me of my own grandparents, who I watched go through the stages of Alzheimer's. I also have spent lots of time creating woodpiles with others and I realize how strong of a bond people can create when doing such hard work together.

The other story I liked was the man who raised orphaned bear cubs. I thought it was cute how it was not clear right away that he was talking about a bear. It was nice to see the film portray not only a man who has a soft spot for his pets, but also a seemingly dangerous animal that has a soft spot for his caretaker. This sketch also tied two important Finnish aspects together-nature and saunas! Even the bears take saunas sometimes.

One thing I thought was kind of artistic and interesting was the transitions used in this documentary. One does not necessarily think of documentaries as being artistic and symbolic, but this one definitely was at times. Between each of the stories, and during some of them, the camera cut to a scene of water being thrown on the sauna rocks. This always signaled a shift in emotions, right before things "heated up," literally and emotionally. There were several different types of sauna rocks show in this film. This just shows how each sauna, like each story, is different from the rest.

All documentaries are intended to enlighten and teach the viewer something. Before this film, I knew saunas were popular in Finland. However, I did not realize the huge cultural and spiritual significance behind them. The saunas are an important part of Finnish life. There are saunas in businesses, public saunas, roadside saunas the size of a telephone booth, and saunas in mines. I read once that most Finns take a sauna at least once a week and the process can take hours. All these saunas provide people with a sense of community and support, a place to go where they will not be judged or ridiculed, a place where they can go to get things off their chests. It seems almost like a religious thing to me, and it definitely has a spiritual quality to it. It seems that the sauna is like a sanctuary-a safe place for all to go. I found that to be interesting because of all the Nordic countries, Finland is the only one that is becoming more religious. The rest are becoming increasingly secularized. Maybe sauna counts as a religion? It definitely has the accepting, forgiving nature many religions claim to have.

My reaction to this film was tepid-definitely not as hot as the saunas it portrayed. Although parts of this movie were interesting and some were very emotional and engaging, other parts were not. I found myself checking my watch at point because the film did seem to be long, even at only 80 minutes. There are definitely some stories that are less engaging. I think if I understood Finnish it would be more meaningful, but I feel that meaning and emotion are sometimes lost in the English subtitles, especially when the scene was shot entirely in the sauna. However, overall I think there are some valuable things this film has to offer. It gives a glimpse into the everyday lives and of Finns but also into their life-defining moments, like the death of a child. It paints a good picture of the sense of community Finns have, and I think everyone can learn from that.

After watching this I miss sauna too...

[tuomadseen · 9/10 · 4 July 2012]

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...

Beautiful but unabashedly formulaic storytelling.

[sweisner · 7/10 · 4 May 2014]

"Steam of Life" is a memorable documentary film about the human experience, and it's certainly worth a watch. Through stories told by sweating, naked men, I was reminded of the universality that connects our species. Love, truth, regret, determination, letting go – these important aspects of life are explored both in conversation and in silence.

Spending time wrapped in steam is an essential part of life in Finland, where there is an average of one sauna per household. The process has its health benefits: sweating clears out toxins while slaps from birch branches open pores and improve circulation. But the layer that this film aims to expose is not purely physical: through emotional vignettes, "Steam of Life" brings the vulnerability of Finnish men into focus. The stories that these men tell in the sauna cover a wide range of life experiences: from the joy of raising a child to the horror of botched custody rights, the transition from criminal to family-man, the unending love for an enormous sauna- fearing bear – yes, seriously – this film truly has it all. In order to display the full spectrum, directors Joonas Berghäll and Mika Hotakainen traveled around Finland to reach men of all shapes and sizes, dispositions and personal histories. Each episode is separated by beautiful still-shots of the Finnish countryside and a minimalistic piano-driven musical interlude that seems to reflect upon the past scene. These breaks add a lot to the film, giving the viewer a rest from the raw nude footage and heavy subject matter: smoke rises from a wood-burning stove buried in the dense forest, mists drift across lakes, heavy clouds reflect in calm waters – the film's title seems more influenced by its punctuation than by its hard-hitting content. In "Steam of Life," excellent cinematography continually shines through the cloudier aspects of production. Woody, blushed colors dominate close shots inside of the saunas, and there is a certain weight that seems lifted when Berghäll and Hotakainen release us into the gentle, swaying foliage outdoors. Light is harnessed to create interesting shadows on the inner sauna walls. Oftentimes the shots seemed so artistically crafted that I wondered whether or not this was a true documentary, or one that had been modified for aesthetic reasons. Maybe everything in Finland is just that beautiful.

"Steam of Life" clearly illustrates the therapeutic and remedial aspects of the sauna in Finland. While these men pour out their emotions and share their most intimate secrets with an unspecified audience, the camera tends to focus on the other faces in the sauna which are held in receptive poses – as if instructing the viewer to do the same. The active-listening skills on display in "Steam of Life" are telling of the sauna's powers: as men sweat out the week's grime, they can enjoy a less tangible (but arguably more important) emotional release with a sort of psychoanalytic feedback. A caring audience helps, and I believe that Berghäll and Hotakainen intended to model the importance of being a good listener.

While details vary from scene to scene, "Steam of Life" ultimately comes across as formulaic. More often than not, the men in this film speak about hardships that they have endured, followed by an explanation of their current situation and a final "moral-of-the-story" umbrella statement. Unfortunately, a chance for these men to self-reflect often turns into an ego-serving rant. I wanted to sympathize with each man on screen, but sometimes their over-explanations made me question the editing prowess and artistic intent of Berghäll and Hotakainen. And on the rare occasions when an emotional note struck home, I couldn't help but think that Finnish men would be absolutely blasted company. The balance of uplifting stories to downright depressing ones was tipped very noticeably towards the latter – and even happier moments seemed somehow nonchalant. In addition, almost every story told by these men revolved around a female character. For a film championing male connection, it came across as gossipy.

If you think too hard about the logistics of the movie, you might find yourself questioning its legitimacy as a documentary. Berghäll and Hotakainen, along with the camera and sound crews, were sitting just across the room from the men they filmed. I can't imagine telling such private, emotional, and often tear-jerking stories (as these men did) with a microphone dangling inches above my head. A documentary should be composed of raw content, certainly, but in "Steam of Life" it all felt romanticized. It was more like a hybrid between an art film and a Finnish tourism advertisement than anything else.

Men Naked in both Emotion and Body

[anderslindquist1993 · 9/10 · 28 April 2014]

Saunas have long been seen as a central tenant of Finnish culture and are often a significant marker of a cultural identity for Finland. In Steam of Life, a film directed by Joonas Berghall and Mika Hotakainen, is a Finnish documentary film that builds and explores the relationship between men and the ubiquitous Finnish Sauna. Steam of Life is a film could not have come from any other country as Berghall and Hotakainen use a unique documentary storytelling technique; most of the movie takes place almost entirely in or around saunas. It is almost as if this movie was a compilation of short films; a series of standalone stories with the connecting fiber that runs through them being that each small movie revolves around a life story told by men from within saunas. There is no continuity between each of these small segments, but individual story each packs an emotional punch as the men recount their personal stories. Despite this unlikely premise and the unconventional storytelling technique, this movie succeeds with flying colors.

Saunas are often a place of quiet, there is little to do except sit in the heat and perform ritualistic actions such as pouring water over hot coals. All the vigorous action such as the cleaning by dousing happens at the end of the sauna session. There is little else for one to do but sit, think, and reflect. The sauna is an intimate setting; one is often by his or herself or with one other person and it is always done naked. Yet this intimate setting is often done with members of the same sex, removing any sort of sexual coloring or influence. What is left is the perfect environment that fosters reflection and makes for a situation that allows one to share their troubles and past woes without judgment and to build relationships.

Like the naked bodies the audience is subjected to within the sauna, the stories that come along with are often just as ugly and not pleasing to bear witness too. They are both exposed in body and emotion. Something else that comes along with this that won't take a viewer long to notice is how the movie features almost exclusively men. Just before the credits, the film states that Steam of Life is dedicated to Finnish men, a sort of tribute. About midway through the movie, an army officer spills that he finds it hard to find time to feel weak or sorry, it is seen as a weakness in his environment. This can be extrapolated to a larger theme of the film. There are certain expectations that come along with gender, generally men are expected to be strong and brave and it is a sign of weakness to show emotion or sadness. This movie attempts to break down this barrier; the sauna is used as a small window of time that allows men to dwell on their troubles and share their woes without feeling as judged by society, or without their manhood questioned. Besides, when else would one share such stories except for a sauna?

The directors like to include wide-angle still shots, with the characters slowly moving across or away from the camera. While this may seem like rudimentary cinematic techniques, there is no camera movement or common techniques like using a hand-held camera—this would do a disservice to the beautiful cinematography and the themes of the movie. The focus is not excitement or the artistic techniques, but instead the men's stories. As I mentioned previously, the cinematography in Steam of Life beautiful-- Yes, most of the movie is inside of saunas (I had no idea there was so much variability in the settings of saunas: tents, small phone booths in fields, gyms, trailers, small cabins…-etc) but when the movie moves outside of the cramped rooms the viewer is treated to a visual feast which is the Finnish countryside. This also showcases another key cultural marker of Finland—the importance of nature and lakes in defining Finish identity.

US viewers might be at first disgusted and turned away when looking at this film at a glance, we are not used to seeing full nudity in movies—and even less used to seeing non-beautiful men nude. If you start to feel this way, I beg for you to press on. If you do press forward with Steam of Life, you will be treated to a beautiful film—while not in actors--cinematically, and an emotionally powerful film on a little explored topic—men's emotions. There may not be exactly an agenda or a specific plot to Steam of Life, but this documentary gives the viewer the opportunity to have their own take away and form their own opinions about the film as a whole.

Real Stories and Real Steam

[peterm9 · 7/10 · 30 April 2014]

"Steam of Life" follows a grouping of Finnish men as they talk with their friends in the sauna. The process of the sauna gives the film its structure. Movements are replicated by one group of men after another with the similar ladles, colored buckets, tree branches and the brown beer bottles. These familiar ritualistic movements give the men the courage to discuss the emotions of their lives. They share the sadness, tragedies, loneliness, frustrations and some of their joys. As these naked men expose their inner emotions, the viewer comes to appreciate the goodness of the sauna.

The movie is interspersed with scenes of Finland. These scenes convey the beauty, but also the isolation of parts of Finland. While these scenes give the context of Finland, they also slow down the viewer. There are times in "Steam of Life" when the slow pace seems too slow. Yet, this seems purposeful as the interspersed scenes force the viewer to slow down and have patience. A proper sauna takes time. This time allows for people's stories. Perhaps even more importantly, it allows for real listening.

Loneliness is an overwhelming emotion for many of the men. Yet, the film doesn't lead the viewer into a downward spiral of emotion. The film is shot with a richness and warmth. The viewer can almost feel the comforting heat even in the bright white tiled sauna. This richness is also kind to the characters. Their physical flaws seem unimportant compared to the flush that the sauna brings to their face. The kindness of the camera's warmth encourages the viewer to listen with kindness. These naked men shed their outer identity allowing the viewer to focus on their humanity.

The ritual of the sauna brings warmth and cleanses. The physical warmth parallels the warmth shared between those in the sauna. The coldness of their exterior is gone. Yet, the sauna also cleanses from the inside out by creating sweat. Therefore the men's troubles come out in the open where the steam and the water help to lessen their grip. So after this ritualistic cleaning, the men leave with hearts, no less full, but less heavy. The parallel's of the men's stories with the sauna ritual provides the story with a uniquely Finnish structure. The message, however, is universal.

Throughout the film, there are examples of Finnish ingenuity. Charmingly, this ingenuity is illustrated by the variety of objects that have second lives as saunas. These include Teepees, combine harvesters, and phone booths. This ingenuity seems to reflect the Finish culture of survival in a physically tough land. Along with this ingenuity is also a sense of resilience. Despite hardships, Finish men survive. The time in the sauna is illustrated as an essential part of this resilience. It is the place where individuals emerge with renewed inner strength.

The role of the listener is that of simply a listener. These are not discussions, but instead narratives. Often listeners feel that they have to comment or contribute to the discussion. Yet, in these narratives it becomes clear that narratives need to be told not as objective stories, but as reflections of the individuals' own perspective. The listeners may have small roles, but they don't control the narrative and most importantly they don't feel compelled to interject into the narrative. Allowing the speaker to just tell their story is central to the movie. Their story is important and by extension so are they as individuals.

The movie cleverly illustrates the importance of how hard it is to listen well. The story of the grandfather chopping wood is a wonderful example. Many may have interpreted his frequent wood chopping as a way of getting out of the house away from his wife. Yet, in the end, we find that he was just trying to chop enough wood for her life after he had died. Strategically placed into the film, the viewer is again instructed on what it means to listen with an open mind.

Companionship is perhaps a more appropriate word for the way the men share their time in the sauna. Taking a sauna with a companion, balances out the cultural belief that a man should be able to manage everything himself. A reoccurring theme throughout the movie is the relief that the men feel upon sharing their stories with statements such as "it is good to talk" and "knowing you are not alone helps." Sauna's are not for making plans or solving problems, they are for sharing.

The men featured in "Steam of Life" differ in age, occupation, situation, health and ability. Yet, they are all illustrated as equally in their humanity. They are all given as much time as they need to tell their story. Their stories are equally important. Some seem to drag on which challenges the viewer to understand the importance of patient listening. By the end of the film, the story seems to be less about the men and more about the importance of how we choose to listen to others and how that listening brings meaning to their life. By the end of the film we are reminded that it is not good to live in isolation and that companionship, perhaps even for an orphaned bear, is good.

men sit in saunas and talk

[palmersdmrar · 5/10 · 1 September 2011]

Normally taciturn Finnish men, bare their bodies, and metaphorically their souls, in several different sauna settings.Thus we discover that they are are really all too human. Something that their body shape has already made all too clear. The stories are interesting,if often gloomy. The saunas are entertainingly diverse in nature, and ingenuity. A bear provides one scene to lift the mood. The film could do with more such moments. The scenery is evocative. Cold,white and distant at times, yet it makes you want to explore it, as long as you are well protected from its bite. A hot sauna is just what is needed to warm yourself after such a trip. I guess this is why emotional landscapes can be laid bare in the steam as well.

"Letting out Steam"

[lockrema · 25 April 2012]

The documentary "Steam of Life" is not a typical Hollywood documentary and I felt it was very informative. Overall, I felt this film had a very good meaning, but I found it very hard to pay attention. The opening scene shows an elderly couple sitting in a sauna washing and hitting each other with small branches. I assumed this film was going to be about this one particular couple and their sentimental feelings toward their sauna. It said they have been washing each other for over 50 years and I believed it was going to be a love story and their connection towards the sauna. As usual, I was wrong in thinking I knew how a Nordic film was going to turn out. There were many different scenes of different groups, especially men talking about their problems and life stories. This film was dedicated to Finnish men and tries to demonstrate how saunas are a huge cultural aspect in Finland. The major themes used through out the documentary were men and nature. As mentioned earlier there were many different scenes where there were only men in the sauna. In fact, there is only one scene where there is a woman portrayed through out the documentary. Every scene in these saunas demonstrated men opening up to each other and discussing problems they have had. Usually men are portrayed in Nordic films as very masculine, but this film portrayed men as very sentimental towards past experiences. After doing some research on saunas in the Finnish culture, I found people tend to open up more while they are in the saunas. Maybe it's because they are very comfortable from the hot steam along with the cold beer or alcoholic beverage they drink. I say this only because almost every scene showed each member drinking an alcoholic beverage. Another important theme portrayed in the movie was the idea of nature. Almost every scene showed saunas being out in the middle of the woods or on an island. The Finnish culture, as do many Nordic countries include nature in their daily lives. The director really tries to incorporate this idea of nature into the documentary and I feel nature and the location of the saunas help the people in the movie open up. Being alone or with a group of friends out in the middle of the wilderness, makes one feel very comfortable, helping them open up about their feelings. Even though there are a couple of scenes in the city, the director incorporates snow and darkness to demonstrate this theme of nature. Through out the documentary, there is never a time where the camera is rotating. I found this to be very interesting, because there are very few times where I have scene this. The director uses the Dogme 95 technique of close-ups on the character's faces. This is especially scene when one is opening up to the other; giving the viewer a clear retrospect of how the character is feeling. The director also uses this technique when showing those who are listening to the disturbed man's problems. As I was watching these scenes, I almost felt as if I was sitting right next to them and I really felt for each character. Nudity also plays a significant role throughout the documentary. Every scene in the saunas has each character naked. Furthering my research on the documentary, I learned even the camera crew was naked while filming. I found this to be a very interesting and useful technique. The idea of having everyone naked, including the camera crew, would make one feel less comfortable, creating one to open up more. It's hard to think these characters are not acting, but just going about a discussion. I don't believe I would be able to open up, yet alone be filmed naked in a film. I mentioned earlier how this film was very informative. I say this only because; this would not be a typical Hollywood documentary. Most Hollywood documentaries are very formal and give a layout of facts about a certain subject. This documentary tried to make the viewer understand the Finnish culture without the incorporation of facts. Also, in many Hollywood documentaries, there is usually a narrator in the film. This film did not have a narrator and I found this to be very strange. I understand why the director didn't use a narrator, but it was just something I wasn't accustomed to. I give the film a 5 out of 10 rating, because I didn't find it to be very interesting. Also, I feel the film could've gotten the point across in a shorter length. I understood the whole meaning of film after the fifth scene and I feel the director dragged the film on way too long.

Emotionally Exposed Phenomena

[coryart-36369 · 10/10 · 17 July 2022]

This film really demonstrates the phenomena that when physically exposed in a sauna, people find it easier to be emotionally exposed and conversation becomes much deeper. Loved the sauna on the back of working agricultural equipment, and the "Phone Booth Sauna" LOL.

Steam of Life Transcends Gender, Cutural, Generational, and Historical Boundaries

[cebernhardt · 8/10 · 28 April 2014]

Steam of Life In Joonas Berghäll and Mika Hotakainen's Steam of Life, Men of various backgrounds intimately share their livelihood stories with both their comrades and the camera in different saunas across Finland. As their tales of love, loss, death, and life evoke feelings from all over the emotional spectrum, which rise up with the curling steam they cultivate in their saunas. It is in this little pocket of their universe that they can divulge the inner workings of their minds, and it is the poetic cinematography and editing that pulls the overarching cultural expose forward.

Intermingled with scenic shots of lush and dark Finland, the stories captured by Berghäll and Hotakainen's camera paint a complex image of manhood in Finland – an image that transcends both generational and cultural boundaries to ultimately provide insight on the lives of men in a modern world. Fatherhood, married life, military service, alcoholism, criminality, and self-consciousness thematically lay at the core of this film. Since the public baths of Ancient Greece, men meet where the steam rises to engage in multi-faceted discourse about life. At the close of each session, they appear reborn and cleansed in an unimaginably refreshing way.

Seeking refuge in the unforgiving yet comforting extreme heat of the sauna, these men strip away their outer façade to divulge the dark corners of their psyche's to one another. For some, this periodic meeting with friends is what seems to be getting them through each day of strife. For others, it acts as a moment to share in friendship and help others. No matter the trials or tribulations discussed, each man has his moment to share and everyone walks away from the sauna session with a newfound sense of inner peace.

The manner in which Berghäll and Hotakainen's film these dictations is reminiscent of a series of vignettes, giving the film an overall poetic feel. This film-poem approach allows the viewer to relate to the characters depicted. The film is strikingly capable of developing so much about the character of these men in such brief snippets. Not only this, but the film also achieves a showcase of commonalities between men of varied generations, socio-economic backgrounds, and mental states. The purpose of this film is achieved largely by its poetic form, and would have been nearly impossible to tap into in any other way – narrative, documenting the life of a single man, or otherwise.

The relationship between man and sauna is highly specific. With women scarcely sprinkled throughout the film, one might at first find this film to be anti-feminist. However, this is far from the truth. Due to the nudity and the biological reminder of male anatomy that comes along with it, the gender of the characters may at first hit a viewer over the head. Yet, as their tales are told, each man is seen as a person, first and foremost, and gender hits the back-burner. Their problems, emotions, etc. are in some ways gender specific, but the struggle and pain, the joy and camaraderie, are all human experiences with which viewers of any gender can relate. At the same time, the film creates a window into manhood and the issues that rise out of it. It acts as an important depiction of life for a man today, but successfully includes and invites any viewer to take part in the retribution these men find in their sauna sessions. As such, while both depicting manhood and all of its vibrant complexities, as well as the human experience in general, this film provides intriguing and important perspective on life for any viewer.

Not a good film

[granvik-843-513713 · 1/10 · 12 September 2010]

Very disappointed after all the rumors of this being the documentary film in Finland 2010.

It was sadly enough not much else than a bunch of pretentious random social porn. Saying actually much nothing about the Finnish man.

I was very bored about 'the realness' of this film, almost left in the middle of the film. You feel so blatantly manipulated to 'feel for em' during the film, that you actually feel sick after wards.

Go see Reindeer spotting instead, which actually is a great and touching documentary.

Very disappointed after all the rumors of this being the documentary film in Finland 2010.