Hamam

(Ferzan Ozpetek/Italy & Turkey/1997/94mins)

 

Hamam

Exquisitely constructed with sensual imagery, mouthwatering meals and tantalizing rhythms, STEAM proffers a view into the ethereal mecca that is Istanbul, interweaving the stories of two people who found it necessary to escape and re-invent their lives.

Francesco, a successful designer from Rome, arrives in Turkey to oversee the disposition of an estate left to him by an estranged, recently deceased aunt. Once there, he discovers that the property is actually a hamam, a traditional Turkish steam bath, which had been run by his aunt until her death. From letters and friends’ accounts, he discovers that his aunt was a remarkable and passionate woman, whose insights and meditations uncannily reflect his current experience. Enter Mehmet, the beautiful son of the hamam’s custodian, who ushers Francesco into the sultry world of the Turkish baths, emblematic of men’s erotic love and desire for one another. Enlightened and unbound, Francesco decides to remain in Istanbul and restore the hamam.

"…a persuasive and enticing trip across the Bosphorus"…Time Out

How about booking for the Turkish cookery demo linked to this film?

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