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Amos Lassen wrote on 11/25/2011:

Francesco is a successful interior decorator whose life is full and he enjoys living in high style and spending money. He inherits property in Istanbul from an aunt and flies to Turkey to see it. He originally thought he would fly in, sell the property and return to Rome but that plan changed when he discovers that the property houses a hamam, a Turkish bath. His aunt had managed it until its popularity waned and she has health weakened it closed and just stood there as a reminder of times past.

Francesco, warmly received by his aunt’s family, discovers an attraction to Mehmet, a relative, who ignites a lust in him that he once felt for his wife; so much so that he decides to remodel the hamam and reopen it However, his wife becomes concerned by his extended stay and she goes to Istanbul to see what was going on. She had planned to serve him with divorce papers when she realized that this Francesco was not the same Francesco that she married.

Director Ferzan Ozpetek shows how at any point in time, we can change how we feel depending upon circumstances and that we are free to break from routine and start a new lifestyle. Here is the journey of change and it really looks at two significant changes in Francesco’s life—his taking on a culture (that of Turkey) that was not his own and his recognition of himself as a homosexual.

The photography of Istanbul is gorgeous–so much so that I felt a desire to get there as quickly as possible. The acting is excellent throughout especially Alessandro Gassman as Francesco and Francesca d’Aloja as his wife, Marta. Mehmet Gunsure as Mehmet puts the film in his pocket and steals it with his sincerity and charm and when he and Gassman are together in a scene, the film explodes as we sense the sexual tension between them. The brief scene of them together in the hamam by themselves is magical.

Perhaps I missed it but I did not catch Francesco’s signs of his gay sexual awakening or it could be that they are so sublimely presented that I just did not notice. The conclusion is a shocker and the entire film is beautifully done.

Amos Lassen wrote on 11/23/2011:

Francesco is a successful interior decorator whose life is full and he enjoys living in high style and spending money. He inherits property in Istanbul from an aunt and flies to Turkey to see it. He originally thought he would fly in, sell the property and return to Rome but that plan changed when he discovers that the property houses a hamam, a Turkish bath. His aunt had managed it until its popularity waned and she has health weakened it closed and just stood there as a reminder of times past.

Francesco, warmly received by his aunt’s family, discovers an attraction to Mehmet, a relative, who ignites a lust in him that he once felt for his wife; so much so that he decides to remodel the hamam and reopen it However, his wife becomes concerned by his extended stay and she goes to Istanbul to see what was going on. She had planned to serve him with divorce papers when she realized that this Francesco was not the same Francesco that she married.

Director Ferzan Ozpetek shows how at any point in time, we can change how we feel depending upon circumstances and that we are free to break from routine and start a new lifestyle. Here is the journey of change and it really looks at two significant changes in Francesco’s life—his taking on a culture (that of Turkey) that was not his own and his recognition of himself as a homosexual.

The photography of Istanbul is gorgeous–so much so that I felt a desire to get there as quickly as possible. The acting is excellent throughout especially Alessandro Gassman as Francesco and Francesca d’Aloja as his wife, Marta. Mehmet Gunsure as Mehmet puts the film in his pocket and steals it with his sincerity and charm and when he and Gassman are together in a scene, the film explodes as we sense the sexual tension between them. The brief scene of them together in the hamam by themselves is magical.

Perhaps I missed it but I did not catch Francesco’s signs of his gay sexual awakening or it could be that they are so sublimely presented that I just did not notice. The conclusion is a shocker and the entire film is beautifully done.

Green Giant wrote on 05/19/2003:

this film is quite simply one of the best
i've ever seen about realizing one's true
sexuality. Alessandro Gassman and Mehmet Gubsur make one of the most
stunning cinematic couples of recent years. also the main theme played in various arrangements thru out the film is one of the most beautiful ever composed. as stated the film itself gets my highest rating unfortunately the image quality of the dvd is not one iota better than the vhs.

Will (willwallacemail@aol.com) wrote on 02/28/2003:

I loved this movie! If you are looking for sensuality amid the steam of a Turkish bath then this is the film for you. It also explores the beauty of a culture that allows men in a private place to share intimate and touching moments (behind closed walls of course). It is very entertaining on its own despite the bath scenes with an engaging plot. This is worth having in your DVD collection, but it can also be easily rented at most video stores.