Synergy Magazine

Sauna

Bronson Film Club

The date is 1595, there has been a twenty five year war between Sweden and Russia and as last it is over. However, there are borders to be drawn by agreement between the two countries and two brothers, Eerik and Knut join the commission. They are Finnish by birth but live in Sweden and it seems will receive land as payment for their duty.

The brothers are very different in nature but each complex in their own right. Knut is somewhat of a scholar, drawn in to the commission by his brother. Eerik has been worn down by years of brutal fighting and has begun to kill with abandon; he seems to no longer need any justification for his extreme violence. On the trek to join the commission they encounter a family and decide to look for provisions. While Knut tries to negotiate and take a reasoned approach, Eerik kills the father but leaves the young daughter alive. Knut is clearly attracted to the young girl and to protect her from both Eerik’s violence and his own lust, locks her in the cellar. Eerik claims they will return to release her; however she is left to die.

As the commission moves along the borders creating maps and dividing territories, tensions arise between the various parties. Eerik is violent and borders on sociopathic, he has been so traumatized by war that he will never be able to return to civilian life. Knut is uncomfortable with his duties and cannot wait to return to a post at a Swedish university. The Russian side is likewise eccentric. As they plot their course they encounter an uncharted swamp and as they enter the region Knut begins to experience very disturbing visions of the girl they left in the cellar. She seems to be following them but appears in a decayed state, tearing at her face with no eyes.

They become disoriented and lost and the compass seems to be giving directions that do not make sense, suddenly they find themselves in a very strange village. For a start, the peasants are all remarkably clean, there is only one child and they do not identify as Swedish or Russian. There is also no church, only a strange minimalist stone like structure which is the Sauna, it seems it has been there a very long time.

The history of the village is likewise bizarre, the Sauna seems to be of Pagan origin and an Orthodox monastery was build beside it. The monks believed it could cleanse sin without prayer or repentance, but at a cost. When the townspeople found the village it was empty, there were just the abandoned robes of the monks and some strange and indeed very dark icons and books. Eerik notes that he had killed seventy three people and that the village has seventy three occupants, is there a connection?

Sauna is a very complex and unusual film. As soon as it begins you are struck by the intelligence of the script, the beauty of the scenery and the superb soundtrack. At the same time this is a plot not easily deciphered, it is filled with discussions of the nature of war, sin and redemption as well as the exploration of the short comings of the human character. There is an intertwining of both Christian and Pagan themes as well as social commentary.

There are so many different possible interpretations of the village that the ambiguity of plot adds a real edge to the story. The whole film has a mood of suspense and tension that is superbly haunting. When the horror elements erupt you certainly know it and the final scene with the faceless figure is truly shocking.

This is a film marked by great beauty, depth and reflection; there is a lot of character development, a philosophical dimension and great horror and terror. It is a superbly “European” style horror film which matches its horror with its intelligence and style. I aim to watch this a few times to digest it !