Steam: The Turkish Bath

A bit slow, but helped me learn about some of the baths in Turkey at on point in time.

This DVD is a reissue of the film known in the U.S. as  Steam: The Turkish Bath  but elsewhere as Hamam. The original DVD image was very dark in places, making it difficult to see details. This version is referred to as an HD transfer, and is much brighter, but there is no Blu-ray disc of this release.Francesco (Alessandro Gassman) and wife Marta (Francesca d'Aloja) are running an interior design firm in Rome when his estranged Aunt Anita dies in Istanbul. Francesco, an abrupt, no nonsense man, travels there with the intent to settle her estate quickly. He is welcomed into the home of his low-keyed, hospitable, gracious relatives who cared for his aunt. Finding some old correspondence from his aunt to his mother, which had never been sent, he learns of his aunt's passion for Istanbul. Day by day, Francesco slows his pace and enjoys the warmth found in the old section of Istanbul which, it turns out, is ripe for redevelopment. By chance he encounters a hamam, an old Turkish bath, and then is more surprised to learn that the house he is living in sits above a hamam that his Aunt Anita had operated but which had closed. Although an agent pressures him to sell his aunt's property, and warns him that the buyer is ruthless, Francesco surprises all by announcing his intent to refurbish and reopen the hamam. All this time he has been stalling his sister back in Rome as he extend his trip from days to weeks to months.***SPOILER ALERT***Eventually Marta, who has been having an affair with a colleague, and is planning to ask Francesco for a divorce, flies to Istanbul to confront him, and does, but she soon discovers the joys of Istanbul herself, reading the aunt's letters, and even claiming the aunt's cigarette holder. When she awakes to find her husband gone from their bed, she instinctively enters a hidden passage to the upper level of the almost restored hamam where she sees Francesco and the young man of the house, Mehmet (Mehmet Günsün), in an embrace. (Viewers are not surprised by this because Francesco's glances towards Mehmet have progressed to looks of longing.) Things then take a nasty, unexpected turn. But the viewer will leave the film with the urge to book the next flight to Istanbul, to search for an old hamam.

The unnecessary ending tinges the whole thing with a feeling of senselessness, and what could be a story of love and self-discovery becomes an aimless tragedy, so that even Marta's epilogue feels unearned.That aside, I found a lot to enjoy in the loving shots of Istanbul and the hamam itself.

I LOVED this film when it debuted years ago in it’s original form. It was a wonderful film. This film has been cut down so much that it’s shameful. I enjoyed seeing the actors again but the parts that they cut actually made the film less essential.

If you speak or understand Italian you will probably enjoy the film more than I did. There's so much dialog and the subtitles are changed quickly as are the scenes. The editing was poorly done. I would not watch it again. The on-site scenes in Istanbul are gorgeous. If I could I would go there in a minute - cannot navigate or walk any longer. The plot seems unequal to the visuals. If you do watch it, hang on as it gets confusing without knowing subtitles, and the plot ends strangely. It was OK.

Great film! I believe I'll be thinking about it for a long time. So full of life and open to its most secret mysteries and outcomes...

Credits are still popping up 6 1/2 minutes into this movie. The movie tries to pack too much into the plot. The dominant motive is that of the promotion of Istanbul. The LGTBQ motive is very much a side bar. The main characters are unsympathetic.

I love every bit of this film. The story is nice, but what I love the most is the quality of the film - its atmosphere. From the visual marvel of the architecture to the show of culture and language from both Italy and Turkey; from the narrative set forth by the great Madame, possessing her dearest nephew, to the bequeathment of her legacy and life to Marta, it is very beautiful. Highly recommended.

It was very good to be able to purchase a copy of this movie from long ago. I have enjoyed it very much. Subtitles were very clear. Thankyou.

This is a first feature film and its concept is brilliant. It subverts itself effortlessly and is never quite the film you think it is. It manages a switch of perspective halfway through which I didn't notice initially. What also makes the film remarkable for me is when you re-watch it you see a quite different film, as the twist that is so surprising on first viewing, is written cleverly though each preceding scene. A true tour-de-force by the writer.There are a few problems outside of the plotting and script though. The DVD has subtitles but you have to find them using your subtitle button otherwise the film plays without them. The picture quality of the DVD is pretty poor to - I'm not sure if that's the directors intent or just a really poor transfer. Also it isn't a particularly 'gay' movie so although it has a smouldering same sex plot-line it doesn't live up to the expectations that its publicity & the idea of a 'hamam' might arouse.The director clearly loves Italians, Filipino maids, Turkish working people and even unscrupulous middle men and particularly the gentle eroticism of the hamams. There is an obvious 'orientalism' underlying the plot that some may find disagreeable. However in scene by scene it feels like a non-judgmental journey into people's lives as they seek to survive and blossom in a harsh world. It's an honest and moving film full of delightful touches and a respect for life and love.

Nothing like I was expecting

This DVD contained no English subtitles (or any other language for that matter), contrary to information on the box. I may understand some Italian, but Turkish?!Still this film is worth seeing because of its wonderful cinematography, but come on; there are limits even to my knowledge of languages...

An excellent film