Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19022 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-07-05
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 96 minutes

From The New Yorker
An Italian designer journeys to Istanbul in order to sell off a hamam (a traditional men's steam bath) he has inherited from a deceased aunt, but he soon falls under the establishment's exotic, and erotic, spell. Ferzan Ozpetek's elegant direction embraces the situation's inherent sensuality yet steers clear of sensationalism. His meticulous attention to the details of Turkish daily life-especially the preparation and serving of food-and to the nonverbal interaction of people from disparate cultures enriches an unusual story of spiritual transformation. In Italian and Turkish. -James M Keller
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Nostalgia
As far as I know this movie was promoted in abroad by focusing its romantic gay relationship but It means a lot to me. As a Turk who lives in Istanbul, movie reminded me what we are losing as time passes by. Relations, values and beautiful Istanbul. It is totally a nostalgie movie which can bore most of the people who are get used to see action movies since it is a so relaxing movie. Scenario just reflects the Turkish life and the diverse cultural heritage of Istanbul. The locations that are seen in the movie are not movie sets but the districts of the old city where you can still feel the past with its architecture and religous places.

Astonishing
Once again, I'm a bit taken aback so many reviewers did not understand this film. My advice is this: if you're a Hollywood or porn fan, you'll probably feel the same as the viewers here who offered negative reviews. But if you're up for experiencing an intelligent and aesthetically beautiful film, you will enjoy this one.

This film is so many things, but summarized it's a piece of exotica (the East as seen through the eyes of foreigners) which takes advantage of its distant locale to peer back and dissect the social flaws of the West, and the forgotten humanity of the East as well. It accomplishes as much through a deceased main character, an Italian who late in life discovered her place and contentment in Turkey. Through the living characters, we discover her tale and journey.

I say this is an intelligent film as there are no black or white characters here; every character is multi-dimensional. No one character is portrayed as more valid than another. Nowhere else is this more evident than in the character of wife, who to the astonishment of the lovers shows up in Turkey unannounced. And in a brilliant twist, it is this character who is the hereoine of the film.

This a peek into a strangely beautiful place. It profoundly moved me.

You either get it or you don't. . . I got it.
This was one of my favorite films of last year, about an impatient yuppie with all the modern conveniences in Rome that becomes intoxicated by timeless Istanbul, Turkey. This is a very subtle, magical film that was a fairly mainstream success in Italy. If you are looking for the american gay-styled "porn with great locations" you will be very disappointed. Ancient sexuality, wafting from young women to young men in their sexual prime, is too complex for our very modern, narrow perceptions of gay and straight. It is more about feeling overwhelmed in the modern world and wanting to be taken away. The acting is sexy in a very sophisticated way that will be completely lost on all but the most seasoned American film viewer. Treat yourself.