Francesco arrives from Italy to Istanbul to claim his inheritance. He is initially disappointed to find it's a dilapidated Turkish bath, and tempted by the offers of eager property developers; However Francesco becomes increasingly infatuated by life within the city and soon takes the decision to restore the baths and make Istanbul his home. An atmospheric, often beautiful film, rich in sound and colour, which perfectly paints the picture of the Hamam as sanctuary from the everyday world. An impressive directorial debut.