Customer Reviews

Steam: The Turkish Bath

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

"Steam" is yet another film ("American Beauty" and "Fight Club") which examines our lack of fulfillment in conventional society. "Steam" sets itself apart by being life-affirming; though not a "happy" film in the American sense, it shows that happiness through pursuit of one's desires is possible.

Those hoping to see an expensive porn movie will be disappointed, though it is not lacking in eroticism due to the superb acting (those stares!) and location.

This is a superb film - very atmospheric, and captures Istanbul perfectly. The description of the winds is spot on. It's a film about self discovery and getting balance in life (in the same way that Local Hero was) and about beoming entraced by an idea, and a different approach to life.

It is not a 'gay' movie at all, despite the cover and the hype. Ok there is an element (without giving the story away), but it is a sensitive and clever film exploring a group of people.

It's not a 'romp' movie. Anyone who buys it for watching alone for self comfort will be hugely disappointed. Anyone who buys it for a great story and tremendous atmoshere will have an excellent evening.

This movie is one of the most eloquent, elegant love stories to come along in years. I cannot reccomend this film highly enough, not only to gay viewers,especially younger people who should see that there is more to life than cheap sex and dancemusic, but to straight people as well. The film is as much the tale of Marta's awakeing as it is about Francesco's. He is healed and transformed by Mehmet's love and his adoption of his Aunt's vision of life. Marta in fact is really almost the central character as she is almost transformed into the reincarnation of Francesco's dead Aunt (whose letters set the whole plot in motion and transform both her nephew's life and the lives of all around him: Marta, Mehmet)The soundtrack is one of the most sensual and evocative to come round in ages and is a must have! Buy or at least rent this hopeful, sad, subtle little knife of a film and you'll find yourself wanting to see Istanbul itself next....

If you're "lower chakra", this movie will disappoint you. This movie beautifully portrays the many forms that love can take, including the possibility that a place can also fall in love with a person. (I like this idea a lot.) The character Mehmet talks about the 'way of the hamam - where you learn the love for all things'.

This movie also shows a way of life in Turkey that is perhaps disappearing; an old style of architecture that is perhaps endangered there, as in the whole world, by developers. And this movie shows the wonderful ways of the Turkish people -they wrote the book on hospitality, and so many of them are totally psychic - if you travel to Turkey, someone somewhere will read your palm or your coffee grounds and will be amazingly accurate. They seem to be able to see right into your soul.

This is a wonderful movie.

...

What I enjoyed most about STEAM was glimpsing into a depiction of native life in a typical Turkish neighborhood. I was absorbed in the dynamics that propelled this typical Turkish family and appreciated the sense of community they established with the people around them inside and outside their front door, often using food and the rituals surrounding it as a bridge for communication. Music, vocal and instrumental, also features in this story. All in all, I found the story to be enticingly exotic.

Clearly, the main theme of the film has little to do with the Americanized, romanticized, eroticized idea of bath houses. Rather, it's all about how a change of scenery (more specifically, a cultural transplant) can spark personal understanding and change. The main couple, Francesco and Marta, bring home the bacon by working as architects and interior designers. They make things look nice. Their lives are largely superficial, including how they interact with one another in Italy. Francesco is physically beautiful, but Turkey and learning more about his late aunt proves him to be kind and painfully sentimental, too. Marta is thoroughly modern, but she eventually proves that she's nowhere near as shallow as she appears at first flush.

My favorite scenes are those that occur between Marta and her husband's lover. They barely speak a word to each other, but there's no question of what each is thinking.

I admit that I didn't adore this film, but I think it's redeeming qualities far outnumber its faults. In fact, its only glaring fault is a plot twist involving Francesco near the end of the film.

STEAM is a softly drawn, sometimes abstract story. If you don't enjoy filling in some of the blanks for yourself or if you equate the word "sensual" with "sexy,", then you should probably avoid STEAM and seek out lighter fare that requires less work or thought from the viewer.

It is almost impossible to tell a lot of stories at the same time without presenting an excess-baggage image, cinematographically speaking. "Steam" makes this happen, and actually it never gets overdosed. The film is about missing and finding identities, cross-culture exchanges, finding love and affection as part of a cultural expedition. It will be too much underestimation if we talk only about the gay part of it, because it presents way too much more than we can possibly bargain for. This is a social tale of individual lives. Hearthwarming and truely sincere cinematic gem.

This 1997 Italian film has an interesting theme. It's about a successful young Italian architect who inherits some property in Turkey from his aunt. He and his wife have a brittle, caustic marriage and it is obvious that they are unhappy.

Turkey isn't that far from Italy but yet it is a world away. Here the pace of life is quiet and the people are friendly. He's soon living with the family who has run his aunt's property for many years. He absorbs some of the culture and visits a Turkish bath. This is something new for him and he soon understands the joys of this ancient custom of steam baths that is gradually disappearing in modern Turkey.

When he discovers that his aunt's property is indeed a Turkish bath, he decides to restore it to its former grandeur and soon is totally involved in his project. Suddenly, his Italian wife comes for a visit. She has a hidden agenda, which is to end their marriage and have him sign divorce papers. But in a interesting twist to the story, including a secret she discovers about her husband, we see her gradually change her personality.

Then tragedy strikes. The ending is sad but satisfactory.

The best part of this film is the way it depicted Turkey. It brought me right there and gave me insights into the ancient culture and traditions. Acting was fine as well, especially Francesca d'Aloja cast as the wife. She is a striking beauty which has not been tampered with by an American-style nose job or silicone curves. Whenever she was on-screen however, her presence dominated every scene. The plot was interesting, but some of the details remained confused throughout, especially when it came to the deceased-aunt's background. I think this was by design however. It added to the sense of mystery surrounding the central story.

Those who are interesting in exploring the contrasting cultures in Turkey today will especially enjoy this film. Recommended.