fabulozo Another marvellous movie from the director of "Finestra di Fronte" (Facing Window)2003, "Le Fate Ignorante" (Ignorent Fairies)2001 and "Harem Suare" 1999. Ferzan Ozpetek, a Turkish film director who has the ability to gather very different point of views at a time. Also in this movie, showing how beautiful and bad life can be, and how we lose the "whole" among the details. A confusing adventure for the young italian man who discovers love for the second time and the Turkish bath "Hamam" at the suburbs of Istanbul.

Ruhi E. Tuzlak Life is full of surprises. Everything was bright and promising for a young couple living in Rome --at least, everything looked beautiful on the surface... Then came most unexpected changes: Going to a most fascinating city (Istanbul) located in a drastically different country (Turkey) to finish some family business; meeting a loving, close-knit family; making personal connections with the members of the family and other local persons; discovering an architectural peculiarity --Turkish Steam Bath-- not well-known and appreciated even in that city; exploring, enjoying, and getting to know all the unique specialties of this type of "Bath"; and, above all, going through a major personal evolution and discovery. All of these are told with a most beautiful style. The way the story is revealed and the way camera is used in the process of this disclosure are absolutely superlative. The changes people go through and the emotions they experience during these changes are expressed in an exceptionally masterful way. A superb film from a great director.

xarax Incredible music over Istanbul, dense pictures where all references come out mixed, in this frontier land, between West and East, between hetero and homosexual. A touching love story, with melting frontiers.

graffixalley I have seen this film twice now, and both times felt enchanted at the end. I was impressed by the fact that while in Italy, colors are bright and edges are sharp but life was just dull. In Turkey, the screen was inundated by drab colors, worn edges and crumbling buildings, but the humble people and surroundings were full of life.While never afraid of subtitles, I felt their use was enlightening in this case. I was able to put myself in the main character's shoes in not understanding everything being said (well, I could read, but still...) The use of what I perceived to be 'broken Italian' also added to the mood.The letters being read has been done before and I expected it to be a foreshadowing of things to come but I didn't expect the way it was carried out.As for the sexuality mentioned in other reviews, I think I would call it sensuality, and it didn't always involve naked bodies.All in all, this was a great movie. I have also added Istanbul to my list of cities I must visit before I die.