Film Review “A Touch of Spice”
Considering the international attention on Hagia Sophia and my recent review of Elia Kazan’s masterpiece “America America” I have concluded the time is right for a review of a great Greek film. This film, “A Touch of Spice” was made in Greece and Turkey and was shown in the United States in 2005. The film is about a Greek family in Constantinople that were impacted by the expulsions of 1964.
The film tells the story of a boy and his parents who are forced to leave Constantinople by the Turkish authorities. At the time many Greeks with Hellenic citizenship were expelled from Turkey, and since they were married to Greeks native to Constantinople thousands of families were forced to leave their homes and their beloved city. Human Rights Watch in its 1992 publication “Denying Human Rights and ethnic identity the Greeks of Turkey” stated that 30,000 Greeks left Turkey after the initial deportations.
The film has wonderful Greek and Turkish actors and is filmed on location in Greece and Turkey. And yes there is a wonderful scene that includes Hagia Sophia. In addition, there is a great scene in which the boy lights a candle in a Greek Church in Constantinople.
It is a very sentimental and nostalgic film with elements of comedy. I will refrain from ruining the plot and simply recommend this film to be added to anyone’s Greek film collection with “America America”.
Here is a list I am compiling of films that include the city of Constantinople and/or Hagia Sophia. I will probably be adding to the list.
America America 1963
Topkapi 1964
Midnight Express 1978
A Touch Of Spice 2005
Argo 2012
Murder on the Orient Express 2017