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Hamam (film)
Encyclopedia
Hamam is a 1997 Italian-Turkish-Spanish film directed by Ferzan Özpetek
about the powerful transformations certain places can cause in people.
) and Marta (Francesca d'Aloja) are an uptight Roman
couple running a small design firm. Their marriage, once the most important thing to both of them, has lost all meaning. Francesco loses interest in Marta, prompting her to start an affair with their business partner.
Then Francesco's aunt Anita, the black sheep
of the family, dies in Istanbul
, where Francesco goes to try to sell the property he has inherited from her as quickly as possible.
The family who had managed the property under Anita's supervision and direction welcomes him with hospitality, but they are concerned about what the future holds for them. Their young son Mehmet (Mehmet Günsür
) is particularly eager to show their handsome guest around.
When Francesco discovers the property includes a derelict hamam, a Turkish bath, he instead decides to restore the hamam and reopen it to the public. During the restoration, he starts a relationship with Mehmet.
Meanwhile, Marta has arrived in Istanbul to get a speedy divorce from Francesco, but she is taken aback when she realizes how much Francesco has changed from his Roman self: both the hamam and Mehmet's unconditional affection were just what he needed, giving him back a purpose in life. Marta falls in love with him again, causing Rome and the divorce to lose importance for her.
Francesco's unwillingness to sell the property makes him enemies, some of whom ultimately murder him.
Marta decides to stay in Istanbul and run the hamam, the final scene suggesting she has turned into a second Anita.
Ferzan Özpetek
Ferzan Özpetek is an Italian-Turkish film director and screenwriter, residing in Italy.- Biography :Ferzan Ozpetek was born in Istanbul in 1959. When he was a young student in 1976, he decided to move to Italy to study Cinema History at Sapienza University of Rome...
about the powerful transformations certain places can cause in people.
Synopsis
Francesco (Alessandro GassmanAlessandro Gassman
Alessandro Gassman is an Italian actor.Born in Rome, he is the son of Italian actor Vittorio Gassman and French actress Juliette Mayniel.-Career:...
) and Marta (Francesca d'Aloja) are an uptight Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
couple running a small design firm. Their marriage, once the most important thing to both of them, has lost all meaning. Francesco loses interest in Marta, prompting her to start an affair with their business partner.
Then Francesco's aunt Anita, the black sheep
Black sheep
In the English language, black sheep is an idiom used to describe an odd or disreputable member of a group, especially within a family. The term has typically been given negative implications, implying waywardness...
of the family, dies in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, where Francesco goes to try to sell the property he has inherited from her as quickly as possible.
The family who had managed the property under Anita's supervision and direction welcomes him with hospitality, but they are concerned about what the future holds for them. Their young son Mehmet (Mehmet Günsür
Mehmet Günsur
Mehmet Günsür is a Turkish actor.-Biography:Günsür worked first as a barman and then as a model before becoming an actor. He graduated from Italian High School. Since his debut, he has acted in Turkish, Italian, and some American films...
) is particularly eager to show their handsome guest around.
When Francesco discovers the property includes a derelict hamam, a Turkish bath, he instead decides to restore the hamam and reopen it to the public. During the restoration, he starts a relationship with Mehmet.
Meanwhile, Marta has arrived in Istanbul to get a speedy divorce from Francesco, but she is taken aback when she realizes how much Francesco has changed from his Roman self: both the hamam and Mehmet's unconditional affection were just what he needed, giving him back a purpose in life. Marta falls in love with him again, causing Rome and the divorce to lose importance for her.
Francesco's unwillingness to sell the property makes him enemies, some of whom ultimately murder him.
Marta decides to stay in Istanbul and run the hamam, the final scene suggesting she has turned into a second Anita.