The Spirit of the Löyly is an Official Selection and a Finalist for the Best Short Documentary award at the Best Independents International Film Festival in Karlsruhe, Germany!
About the Best Independents International Film Festival
The Best Independents International Film Festival (BIIF) presented by the filmboard Karlsreuhe e.V. shows a selection of short films in a summer and a winter edition in cooperation with Kinemathek, Karlsruhe.
The best Indie Films have the chance to win the Best Indie Film Award and will be screened in a Best of-festival programme in film theatres and during major cultural events.
The film is screening as part of Kurzfilmprogramm 1: Banden bilden on December 21st, 2024 at the Kinemathek Karlsruhe e.V. .
About The Spirit of the Löyly
In the tranquil Nuuksio forest, Finland, a mystical journey unfolds accompanied by evocative music and an artistic title that leads viewers to a steaming sauna. Inside, a woman's melodic chanting fills the air as she adds branches and water to the sauna's hot rocks. Marcello, the recipient of the healing ritual, is enveloped by the soothing vapors of water and birch leaves, as Laura explains the restorative powers of the sauna experience.
Next, Marcello undergoes a purifying salt scrub and a gentle massage, followed by a refreshing cool down outdoors and hydration with herb-infused water. The healing treatment continues with a mud application and a rejuvenating float in the nearby river, where Marcello relaxes in the warmth of cozy blankets.
The camera captures the surrounding nature in slow motion, showcasing the sauna's steam, the flowing water, and Marcello's peaceful state as he embraces the healing process. The journey concludes as we retreat through the forest, leaving behind the glowing embers in the oven and the healer waving birch branches. The film ends with a serene smile under the radiant glow of the sun.
Director: Petri Luukainen
Cinematographer: Otso Reunanen
Editor: Altti Sjögren
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