A Touch of Spice (2003)
Directed by Tassos Boulmetis
Available at Amazon
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A Touch of Spice is the English subtitled version of the 2003 Greek film Politiki Kouzina (Cuisine of the City, ie. Constantinople). The film is based in Constantinople (today Istanbul) in 1964 during a period of civil unrest between Greeks and Turks in Cyprus.
In an attempt to pressure Greece to bring the Greek Cypriots to the negotiating table, the Turkish government instituted a series of repressive measures against Greeks living in Turkey. One of those measures was their immediate expulsion and the confiscation of their property.
Seven year old Fanis (George Corraface) and his Greek family who were residents of Istanbul, were one of the families given the news that the Turkish government was deporting them to Greece.
Fanis initially has trouble adapting to his new life in Greece. He constantly reminisces about life in Constantinople where he grew up among the Greek community of the City. He recalls his happy upbringing and the fond memories of being around his grandfather Vasilis who owned a store that specialized in food spices.
It was through these spices and the wisdom and mentoring of his grandfather that Fanis was taught about the solar system, among other things, and it's here that Fanis develops a connection with his childhood sweetheart, a Turkish girl called Saime.
Three decades later and Fanis, who by now is an accomplished astronomy professor, travels back to Constantinople to visit his hometown. While much has changed, his childhood neighborhood is still there. As is his grandfather's spice shop, albeit disused. Fanis is also reunited with Saime.
A Touch of Spice delves into cooking and food and in particular spices. It's a film about the uprooting of a young child and its repercussions. It's also a film that brings up nostalgia for one's homeland. While time can bring about change, a longing for one's home always remains.
