"Hamam" is about Francesco (Allesandro Gassman), a designer in Rome unhappily married to Marta (Francesca d'Aloja). He goes to Instanbul where he has inherited a derelict Hamam, a Turkish bath house, from his aunt Anita. Francesco's life and the Hamam become one when he renovates it. As the film’s tagline indicates, "What he inherited was a sexual awakening". Something inside him brings out his love for life in Istanbul and his desire to have gay sex with Mehmet (Mehmet Günsur), and soon they become lovers. Marta arrives in Istanbul to get a divorce from Francesco but is taken aback when she sees how much Francesco has changed. She falls in love with him again, and their divorce is no longer important to her. Francesco's unwillingness to sell the property has made him some enemies, resulting in his murder one day. Marta decides to stay in Istanbul and run the hamam, the final scene suggesting she has turned into a second Anita. This great Italian/Turkish/Spanish movie has some unexpected twists and turns, some stunning scenery, and excellent acting. It features music by Aldo De Scalzi. Ferzan Özpetek wrote the screenplay and directed. The Italian title is "Il Bagno Turco" and the English title is "Steam: The Turkish Bath".
