Steam: A Film about the Hamam

The Hamam at Sumahan

When I was in Istanbul last month, staying at my favourite resting place, luxury hotel Sumahan-on-the-Water, I decided to unwind after a particularly hectic schedule and to experience one of my favourite forms of relaxation, the hamam.  The hamam at Sumahan is spotlessly clean, particularly beautiful and sets the scene for an amazing meditative experience.  So, when I read that our local Istitute Italiano di Cultura will present the movie Steam by Turkish-Italian director Ferzan Ozpetek in a couple of weeks, I made a note to that this will be a date evening with hubby!

The publicity for the film describes the story:  Francesco is a successful designer from Rome, who arrives in Istanbul to dispose of an inheritance left him by an aunt he never knew.  The property is a hamam, a traditional Turkish steam bath.  Smitten with the hamam and the family that runs it, Francesco soon decides to remain in Turkey …

When I think about how much Turkey has changed in the last five years, this movie will surely help me to gain even more perspective on how this increasily popular travel destination has changed … and perhaps provide a hint as to why …

Here are the details:

when:  Wednesday, June 16 at 6.15pm

where: IstituteoItaliano di Cultura, 500-510 West Hastings Street, Vancouver

There is no admission charge and pre-registration is not required.  Please note that this is intended for an adult audience.