Steam: The Turkish Bath

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.

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.

Interesting premise and I was looking forward to learning more about this culture. But at the end of the day I didn’t love it and found the ending arbitrary and mean-spirited.

The plot

There are plenty of reviews of this film kicking around. Here's the short version - it's marketed in the USA as "gay movie" - in fact although it is a movie about seduction, it is the seductive nature of Istanbul itself which is explored. Yes, there is gay element - a whole 5 seconds of footage is devoted to 2 men kissing in a Hamam (Turkish Steam Bath).A really beautiful film and the transfer to DVD on this version is absolutely top quality, in contrast to some earlier versions which were just horrible.

I had seen this film years ago but had wanted to get it for my video library. I'd rather own the films I have seen than rent them, especially ones that leave an impression on me.

Excellent movie, great plot, phenomenal acting and photography...it is one of those movies that you never get tired of watching and make you be able to travel to that spectacular and magical place Turkey

Almost as if there were a curse,... A Young man travels to another Country in his relatives footprint,..Follows his heart amongst Dangerous Real Estate Guru,..Passion, tenderness, and life in motion,..really enjoyed it all the way,...