Steam: The Turkish Bath

Rating:
Summary: Very Good but Slow Moving at First,
Review: This movie has been badly handled by it's American distributors!! The poster and box art clearly suggests an overtly sexual gay drama and this movie is anything but. There's no nudity, no blue talk.
There's a brief, discreetly shot scene of the two bare-chested men apparently kissing in the sauna. That's it! You see more "gay action" on a network tv soap opera. It's clear the director meant the gay plot twist to be as much a surprise to the audience as it was to the film's leading lady because there was never any real hint of this change in the leading man's interests until the scene. The whole cast is quite good, and the plot twist making the wife (basically a minor character in the first half) front and center toward the end was handled very well. She is wonderful! The DVD does have flaws; as mentioned earlier, for some reason there are no subtitles for the first few minutes which overlap the film credits and there are a couple of brief scenes that suggest the DVD was made from a tape with glitches on it. There are a few holes in the plot (if Francesco respects and loves this family so much, why is he having an affair with their son behind their backs under their own roof?) It would have been very nice had the DVD company bothered to make a cast and characters chapter because it's hard to tell who plays what role. The son is played by Mehmet Gunsur and he is absolutely gorgeous, better looking than most Hollywood heart throbs, what a shame this appears to be the only film he has made.

Rating:
Summary: Fountain of Life
Review: This movie is beautifully shot. The story can be described as "grace and intriguing". It is so good that I don't know how to start. If possilbe I will give it six stars.
It can be recognized as a gay movie. But in fact, elements of gay life in this movie is little. The most important subject of this movie is about discovering your true self (no matter male or female). Many metaphors appeared in this movie. It reminds me of those Arabic phylosophy I have learned. It reminds me of poems written by Omar Khayyam. The fountain of life never stop, we have only one time to experience. Live the life you want and be happy(mentally, not only phisically)

Rating:
Summary: One of the finest love stories
Review: 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....

Rating:
Summary: Pointless movie!
Review: This movie is pointless. It's not erotic. It's not poetic. It's not passionate. It's not dimensional. It's not dramatic. It's just plain boring, and it doesn't even look very good. Most of the film takes place in dark, dingy rooms. The lead actor (Vittoria Gassman's son) is attractive, but not much in the talent department. Skip this movie.

Rating:
Summary: could have been better.
Review: this movie was a little disapointing. the fact that it was filmed in turkey may be the reason. it could have been a little more sexual. but over all its not to bad.

Rating:
Summary: WAOW
Review: this one is the most amazing movie I've ever seen. It's not really gay-lesbian movie. it explore a new sensation in movie industry. and director has the all success with this one. if you are open to see a new kind in this industry this is the one. see it, love it. C.

Rating:
Summary: You either get it or you don't. . . I got it.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Great Film
Review: Truly Moving, This Film by Ferzan Ozpetek is about a Interior Designer, Francesco(Alessandro Gassman), Who's aunt had moved to beutiful Istanbul and Died a Very Happy woman. Francesco who had seen his aunt before, inherited the hamam (Turkish Bath) and was sent to Istanbul to sell it. However, He himself loves Istanbul and stays there due to his love for Mehmet (Mehmet Gunsur) and decides to restore the beutiful Hamam