Steam: The Turkish Bath (1997)

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

I've dealt with clients that are Turkish, and though I have little knowledge on their way of life, it was interesting to see them portrayed: their kindness, generosity and hospitality. It might not speak for them all, but it was still pleasant to see something beyond my little exposure. Unfortunately, my interest stopped there in 'Steam: the Turkish Bath.' It might have perked a bit if it had better lighting. I haven't seen this dark of a film since any Tim Burton movie, and at least he did it on purpose. Perhaps, the gay aspect is new/controversial to the Turks, so maybe the movie should be applauded for setting, uh, out of the norm. But, it's all been done/seen before in countless other American/Asian, well, every group. And I get the fact it's about two cultures and learning/leaning on each other, but the lack of some of the subtitles for those who don't speak either Italian/Turkish was annoying. The plot was simple enough to follow the action (or lack thereof) by their emotions/motions. But, it would've been kind to know what was said. We get confusing opening where you have to put pieces to get who's who/where/what they do, but after awhile it slows down to a married Italian man who travels to Turkey following his Aunt's death and his strange desire to continue her hamam or bathhouse which was already going out of style before her death. Here he gets an awaking in his life he wasn't aware of back with his wife and life in Italy. He also finds a different kind of love, that was predictable from the get go. An odd twist in the closing doesn't save the movie. BTW, if you're looking for nudity due to the title, look elsewhere. This could've been rated G.

Being born in Istanbul and having lived most of my life there, I was very much carried away with the subtle Istanbul spirit of the movie. Very emotional, and very delicate... The old Istanbul that is being lost or driven away by the commercialization of evrything else is revived in a very special manner in this movie.It is a shame though that in the VHS the movies that are previewed are putting this movie into a very wrong shallow category.

I found this videotape at a local library's gay and lesbian section. However, there was only one scene that is related to homosexuality. The main character's partner can also be another female.It is really a nice movie about a person's simple life pursuing happiness. In this material world, sometimes people forget what the ultimate happiness is all about. It really does not matter how much one can make, this film showed that happiness is when you found something that you like to do.A good movie.

Hamam: The Turkish Bath is a beautifully acted film, and a film the the director should be proud of for a first time film. Francesca d'Aloja is an incredibly talented actress, and this film should lead to better parts for her. This film is beautifully shot, and the only weakness is the story, which is a little simple. Overall though, despite the subtitles (at least it's better than dubbing), it is a magnificent film.