Insight

Sophie works as a chimney sweep in Austria. This is no ordinary profession for a woman, as this atmospheric black-and-white documentary shows. In voice-over, Sophie calmly talks about her experiences in a normal working day. At the same time, we follow her through one such day—leaving the house, taking the bus, changing out of heels into working boots and proficiently wielding the chimney brush in a variety of environments.

The shots are carefully composed and framed, sometimes becoming a virtually abstract interplay of lines. The calmness of the film and Sophie’s almost-laconic narrative style make a stark contrast with the issues she encounters on a daily basis, from the unconscious everyday sexism of male colleagues and customers to downright threatening situations. Yet she doesn’t see this as a reason to give up her job for a more conventional one. She finds an inventive solution to every problem, and enjoys the conversations and deep connections she can make with her clients.