International Competition

Steam Of Life

Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen
Screening time  
03.03. / Četvrtak, 15:00 - 17:00 Dvorana 3  
04.03. / Petak, 19:00 - 21:00 Dvorana 3  
05.03. / Subota, 20:00 - 22:00 Dvorana 2  
Naked Finnish men in saunas speak straight from the heart and in the warmth of rusty stoves cleanse themselves both physically and mentally towards the film’s deeply emotional and unforgettable finale.

The film travels through Finland joining men of all walks of life in many different saunas to let us hear their touching stories about love, death, birth and friendship; about life. In all its simplicity, the camera records the raw and rare beauty of landscapes, saunas and men in almost magical pictures. The presence of the characters and the depth of their emotion reaches a limit where it is almost intolerable for the viewer to watch. ‘Steam of Life’ reveals the men’s naked souls in an exceptionally intimate and poetic way.

Joonas Berghäll

Joonas Berghäll, born 1977, studied film production. He has been involved in film making since 1998. Besides of producing, Joonas also directs films. He is a co-owner of the Oktober Production Company.

Mika Hotakainen

Mika Hotakainen, born 1977, graduated as a fiction director in 2004 from the Helsinki University of Applied Sciences, Stadia. Mika has been working in the television and film industry since 1998. He has directed feature documentary films ‘Freedom to Serve’ and ‘Steam of Life’, and short fiction ‘Visitor’. He is a co-owner of Oktober Production Company.

General sponsor

Miesten Vuoro

Finland, Sweden
2010, 81', color, video

Directed by:
Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen

Screenplay by:
Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen

Cinematography:
Heikki Färm, Jani Kumpulainen

Edited by:
Timo Peltola

Music:
Jonas Bohlin

Producer:
Joonas Berghäll

Produced by:
Oktober Oy