Watch A Touch of Spice

A Touch of Spice is a 2003 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Tassos Boulmetis, which explores the life of a successful Greek chef, Fanis Iakovidis (Georges Corraface), who has been living in Turkey for the past 35 years. Fanis is brought back to Athens to visit his ailing grandfather (Tamer Karadagli), and he is subsequently forced to confront the secrets of his past as well as his own cultural identity.

The film opens with a young Fanis, living in Istanbul with his parents and sister. Fanis is passionate about cooking and often spends time in the kitchen with his mother, Vassiliki (Basak Koklukaya), who teaches him the art of traditional Greek cooking. He is also very close to his grandfather, who imparts many valuable life lessons to him.

However, when Fanis is forced to flee Istanbul with his family during the political turmoil of the 1960s, he is separated from his grandfather, who is left behind. Depressed and unable to adapt to life in Athens, the young Fanis eventually returns to Istanbul in search of his grandfather.

Years later, Fanis has become a renowned chef in Istanbul, with a string of successful restaurants to his name. However, when he travels back to Greece to visit his grandfather, who has fallen into a coma, he experiences a series of flashbacks that trigger memories from his past.

As Fanis reconnects with his roots, he is forced to come to terms with the painful memories of his childhood, which include the loss of his grandfather and the struggle to adapt to a new culture. Furthermore, his relationship with his former love interest, Saime (Tamer Karadagli), who is now a married woman, is rekindled, and this reignites the passion between them.

The film’s underlying message is about the importance of preserving cultural identity and remembering one’s past. This is depicted through the symbolic use of food, which acts as a link between the past and the present, as well as between different cultures. The preparation of food is shown as a ritual that brings people together, and one that is imbued with cultural memories and traditions.

The cinematography is beautiful, with stunning shots of Greece and Turkey, and the soundtrack is equally atmospheric. The script is cleverly crafted, switching between past and present smoothly and effectively, and interspersed with beautiful dialogue in both Turkish and Greek.

The cast performance is excellent, with the lead actors delivering strong, emotional performances, and the secondary actors adding depth and colour to the scenes. Georges Corraface delivers a convincing portrayal of a man torn between two cultures, and his chemistry with the beautiful and talented Renia Louizidou is palpable.

The film also addresses themes of politics, identity, love, and family ties. The political situation in Turkey during the 1960s is depicted through Fanis’ family’s plight, while the current political situation in Greece is reflected through the experiences of Fanis’ friend, who struggles to find work in a struggling economy.

In conclusion, A Touch of Spice is a touching and poignant film that manages to explore complex themes with grace and sensitivity. Its themes of cultural identity and nostalgia for the past, as well as its use of food as a link to the past, make it a unique and memorable viewing experience that will leave the audience feeling uplifted and inspired.

A Touch of Spice is a 2003 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 48.