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AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE at Greek Film Festival 2004 

A nostalgic, bitter-sweet comedy about the coming of age of Fanis, a young Greek boy growing up in Constantinople, whose grandfather, teaches him that both food and life require 'a touch of spice' to give them flavour.

2003/ Drama / Rating:M15+ / Director: Tassos Boulmetis

"A Touch of Spice packs a historical and emotional punch that leaves you weak at the knees." The Guardian  

Full detail

the preparation
Fanis Iakovidis is a popular professor of astrophysics. He is 40 years old and has reached a turning point in his life, an existential crossroad that his science cannot help him navigate.
His Grandfather and mentor, "Grandpa Vassilis" lives in Istanbul and has developed his own practical culinary philosophy, revered and applied by Greeks and Turks alike. Fanis hasn't seen his grandfather since he was seven years old so when the old man suddenly decides to come to Greece after so many years his impending visit looms like a milestone in Fanis' life.
When his grandfather's old friends arrive at Fanis' home and are just about to toast to his health, a telephone call informs him that Grandpa Vassilis has suddenly got ill. Fanis is inevitably catapulted on an unexpected journey to Istanbul, a journey backwards in time and space.

the appetizers
Back in the 1950's, Fanis receives his first life lessons in his grandfather's small general store in the marketplace of Istanbul. Grandpa Vassilis' culinary expertise goes far beyond the use of spices simply to make a dish tastier - his vast knowledge of herbs and spices includes their diplomatic applications in everyday and political life.
These are beautiful times for Little Fanis, and one of the things that makes them even more beautiful is SAIME, his first love. Him and Saime spend time together with Grandpa Vassilis to discover the sweet mysteries of life in the attic of his store. Little Fanis teaches Saime to cook… and she dances for him.
As time passes trouble arises between Greece and Turkey. The Turkish authorities inform Fanis' family that they will be deported to Greece, since they are Greek citizens. They have one week to pack up and leave for Greece on their own accord.
Grandpa Vassilis is not a Greek citizen; he was born and raised on the Turkish side of the Aegean. Little Fanis is heartbroken by having to say goodbye to his beloved mentor. Grandpa Vassilis promises that soon he will come to stay with them and that he will also bring Saime. The Turks drive Fanis and his family away as "Greeks", only for the Greeks to receive them as "Turks"…

the main course
When Little Fanis first arrives in Greece he finds it impossible to understand why there is such enmity between two cultures that have such basic things in common: their cursing and their cuisine. Time passes and his grandpa has yet to come as he had promised.
Little Fanis is nostalgic for his two great loves: his grandpa's stories and Saime's dancing. Thus, he develops an exceptional talent in cooking. His parents, along with the society of "Constantinopolites" (citizens of Constantinople, that is, Istanbul) in Greece, are abuzz with the news of Little Fanis newly discovered talent. Suspicions and rumors flare: any child that can cook so well at such a tender age must be abnormal with serious psychological problems…
Years go by and Fanis is now 17 years old, and a junior chef in one of Athens' biggest hotels!

the desserts
We return to present day Fanis (in his 40's) and follow his melancholy gaze out the window of the airplane to the hazy city of Istanbul below.
He goes to the hospital only to find out that his grandpa has fallen into a coma. Grandpa Vassilis passes away and at his funeral Fanis sees Saime. She is now a beautiful woman but her expression betrays that she too has had her share of disappointments in life.

the presentation
Fanis faces all those emotions he has long awaited to feel. Saime has a daughter, Aise, who resembles her when she was small. They both have so much to share but life has its own will…

Winner - 8 Greek State Film Awards, Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2003.

Also Greece's official choice for the Best Foreign Language Oscar for 2005.

"Like… Michael Cacoyannis, and …Theo Angelopoulos, Boulmetis is a another Greek Genius"
Sean Mageean, The Independent (London).

Cast: Georges Corraface, Tamer Karadagli, Bashak Köklükaya, Ieroklis Michailidis, Stelios Mainas, Renia Louizidou, Stelios Mainas, Odysseas Papaspiliopoulos, Marina Kaloyirou

Other credits:

Script: Tassos Boulmetis
Cinematography: Takis Zervoulakos
Music: Evanthia Reboutsika
Editing: Giorgos Mavropsaridis
Art Director: Olga Leontiadou
Costume Design: Bianca Nikolareizi
Sound Recording: Dimitris Athanassopoulos
Production Manager: Yannis Iakovidis
Executive in charge of production: Costas Lambropoulos
Line Producer: Dionyssis Samiotis
Make-up artist: Evi Zafiropoulou
Special Effects: Yannis Georgariou Philippos Marmoutas
Production: Village Roadshow Production Hellas, Greek Film Centre, Filmnet, Cinegram SA, P.Papazoglou S.A., Tassos Boulmetis, ANS International, MC2

Awards:

'A Touch Of Spice' is being promoted for the Foreign Language Oscar selection for 2005
At the 44th International Film Festival of Thessaloniki 2003:
Best Motion Picture First Prize,
Best Director award (Tassos Boulmetis),
Best Screenplay award (Tassos Boulmetis),
Best Cinematography award (Takis Zervoulakos),
Best Set Design award (Olga Leontiadou),
Best Music award (Evanthia Reboutsika),
Best Sound award (Dimitris Athanassopoulos),
Best Editing award (Giorgos Mavropsaridis),
The Dewars Audience award for Best Greek film
The Special Award for technical excellence in the Greek Film & Television Technicians Association Awards

Tassos Boulmetis (Director)

Born in Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1957. He moved to Greece in
1964. He studied Physics in the University of Athens and Film
Production and Direction in the University of California (UCLA), with
scholarship from the Onassis Foundation, where he also worked for
a while as an assistant.
In Greece he started his career as a director/producer of TV shows
in the national television channels. He then co-produced, directed
and wrote the film "Dream Factory". The film gained 8 awards in
Greece and the Golden Award of Fantasy Movies in the Houston
Film Festival. Since 1988 he's been directing TV spots,
internationally, and has specialized in Special Effects and Processing
of Electronic Images.

"A Touch of Spice" is his second feature film, which he wrote,
directed and co-produced with VILLAGE ROADSHOW PRODUCTIONS 
HELLAS. This project is a labor of love for him as the story is based,
mostly, on true facts drawn from his own life.

Filmography

1990, Dream Factory
2003, A Touch of Spice

About the Cast

George Corraface
International actor George Corraface is of Greek origin, but was born and raised in Paris. Fluent in French, English, Greek and Spanish, Corraface remains based in the French capital but enjoys working on international productions on a regular basis. Originally a stage actor, he came to prominence as a member of Peter Brook's Paris-based company the International Centre of Theatre Research, and one of his earliest cinematic appearances was in Brook's The Mahabharata in 1989. He has worked on many English-language films, including playing the title role in Christopher Columbus-the Discovery, and supporting parts in Escape from LA, Not without My Daughter and Impromptu. Internationally his film appearances include roles in Vicente Aranda's Passion Turca in Spain, Andreas Pantzis' Slaughter of the Cock in Greece, Bambino Mio with Julie Walters in England, and Long Live the Bride and the Liberation of Kurdistan, Préférence, and Love, Math and Sex in France.
Source: www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/pr/spice.asp
More info: www.corraface.com

Ieroklis Michailidis
Ieroklis Michailidis studied at the National Theatre of North Greece Drama School and graduated in 1982.
In the period from 1982 to 2002 he has participated in 20 theatrical plays. The most representative ones are "Vodka Molotov" by N. Simon, A. Tchehov (1994-5), "The night of the Inguana" by T. Williams (1991-2), "Mistero Boufo" by D. Fo (1987-88), "Marianna Pineda" by F. Lorka (1986-7), "Odysseas" by N. Kazantzakis (1983-84). He has also starred in three Greek cinema productions: "A touch of spice" (2003), "Back Door" (2000), "Mavro Gala" (1999). He participated in many television series such as "Kolpo groso", "Imaste ston aera", "Agami Thite" and he also worked as a radio producer.
In 1990 he founded, along with other actors, the music satirical theatrical team "Agami Thite", in which, since 1998, he is a leading actor, a director and a scriptwriter. Since 1990, "Agami Thite" have presented more than 110 shows in Greece.

Renia Louizidou
Renia Louizidou studied at the National Theatre of North Greece Drama School. Since the summer of 1988 she is living and working in Athens.
She has taken part in many theater plays such as "Paradise Hotel" by Z. Feido, "Les parents terribles" by J. Cocteau, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" by T. Williams, "Lysistrati" by Aristofanis and many others.
She played leading roles in many Greek television series such as "Pyr kai Mania", "I Aparadekti", "Tis Ellados ta Pedia", "I pantremeni ehoun psyhi", "Esi ftes". In cinema, she has taken part in the films "A touch of spice" (2003), "Safe Sex" by Reppas -Papathanasiou and "Pamptohi A.E." by A. Kokkinou.

Stelios Mainas
Stelios Mainas was born in Ermoupoli, Syros in 1957. In 1983, he graduated from Veaki Drama School.
He participated in more than 20 theater plays such as "Blood Wedding" by Lorka, "Hamlet" by Shakespeare, "Twelfth Night" by Shakespeare, "The Servant of two Masters" by Goldoni, "The Homecoming", by Pinter, "Sweet Bird of Youth" by Williams.
In cinema he has played in six films: "Deserter", "Loafing and Camouflage", "Valkanizater", "Brazilero", "Hard Goodbyes: My father" and "A Touch of Spice".

Tamer Karadagli
Born in 1967, he graduated from Bilkent University, Department of Theatre.
He is the most popular actor in Turkey at the moment, as from 2002 until now he is the leading man in "Çocuklar Duymasin" (Children Shall Not Hear), which is the most popular TV sit-com of Turkish TV.
In the period between 1993 and 2002 he had leading roles in several TV projects.
He also dubs many famous American actors, such as George Clooney, Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood, when their films are released in Turkey.
He also had leading roles in several plays both in private and state companies and played in numerous TV commercials.

Taglines from the movie:

"Pepper...is hot and scorches, just like the sun - Salt... is used as needed to spice up one's life - Cinnamon... is bitter and sweet, just like a woman"

"life, like food, requires salt, too"

Quotes:

"First time that a local (Greek) production has been so enthusiastically adopted by the public and critics alike" Screen Daily

"Tasty production values and accessible, colourful subject matter elevate "A Touch of Spice" to a plat du jour in the Greek cinema menu"
Derek Elley, Variety

Reviews:

A Touch of Spice a slick family heartwarmer centred on a Turkish-born Greek man who revisits Istanbul after 35 years, pic is outgunning "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl" at local theatres. Tasty production values and accessible, colourful subject matter elevate food movie A Touch of Spice to a plat du jour. Using the familiar device of cuisine as a metaphor for national identity and personal feelings, bitter-sweet pic about a man torn between his ethnicity (Greek) and the country of his birth (Turkey) makes its points lightly and given its universal émigré message, film has considerable chances, especially within Europe and Asia, as an exotic attraction. Taken from full review by Derek Elley, VARIETY

A Touch of Spice has already won eight National Film Awards including best picture, director and script. It is probably the first time that a local production has been so enthusiastically adopted by the public and critics alike. This colourful nostalgic tale of a Greek family deported from Istanbul during the Turkish-Greek conflict of the 1960's, steeped in Oriental aromas and lovingly evoking the charms of an irretrievable past, should find receptive audiences. Taken from review in SCREEN DAILY

"A Touch of Spice may yet become the most popular Greek movie of all time. Its theme is the symbiosis between Turks, Greeks and other ethnic groups that flourished until recently, and never quite disappeared, in the great conurbation on the Bosporus." 

"The protagonist is a Greek who is forced to leave Istanbul, along with most of his family , as a small boy but pines ever after for his home town, the Turkish girl who was his childhood playmate, and the Oriental cuisine prepared by his grandfather. As the old man taught him, sweet and spicy flavours can be mixed in many ways, and they taste better in combination than they would alone." Bruce Clark in "The International Herald Tribune",October 12, 2003

Link to full reviews

The Guardian - Nov 2003 - 'Packs an emotional punch that leaves you weak at the knees'
http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1093031,00.html

Greater Union/ Birch Carol & Coyolle - 
http://www.greaterunion.com.au/movies/movie.asp?movie=5348


Production Notes:

"Istanbul kitchen is spicy. And this is because long ago Istanbul used to be a cosmopolis. People from all over the world departed from their homeland and traveled to Istanbul, in order to start a new life. So as not to forget their homeland, they used to "incorporate" their traditional tales in their food recipes. All they took with them in their suitcases were a pinch of pepper, a little origan, and a piece of saffron. Nevertheless, as soon as they managed to settle down, again something was happening and they had to leave once more…"
Born in Istanbul, during the 50's, the scriptwriter and director of A TOUCH OF SPICE, Tasos Boulmetis, takes us on a journey full of tastes and aromas.
A TOUCH OF SPICE is a story about a young Greek boy (Fanis) growing up in Istanbul, whose grandfather, a culinary philosopher and mentor, teaches him that both food and life require a little salt to give them flavor; they both require … A TOUCH OF SPICE.

Fanis grows up to become an excellent cook and uses his cooking skills to spice up the lives of those around him. 35 years later he leaves Athens and travels back to his birthplace of Istanbul to reunite with his grandfather and his first love; he travels back only to realize that he forgot to put a little bit of spice in his own life…

As his uncle used to say…. "there are two types of travelers in life, those who are leaving and those who are returning, the first look at the map, the later look in the mirror.." Now it's time for our hero to take a look in his own mirror.
A TOUCH OF SPICE is a nostalgic bitter-sweet comedy about self-awareness, people leaving their homeland, personal conflict, but, most importantly, shows us how cooking can give all of us valuable lessons about love and life itself.
Humor, sensitivity, romance and mouth-watering delicacies make up this touching yet comical coming-of-age story that will delight audiences worldwide.

About the production

A TOUCH OF SPICE, Village Roadshow's first Greek production, is set to become the most successful film of all time in Greece.
The film, which was shot in Athens and Istanbul, opened in Greece on October 24th, 2003 to a record-breaking 65,000 admissions in only 41 screens all over the country, and in its second weekend recorded an unprecedented 53% increase in admissions. Billed as the Mediterranean answer to "Like Water for Chocolate", the film has held off U.S blockbusters such as "Master and Commander" and "Finding Nemo" to remain at the #1 spot of the box office in Greece for seven consecutive weeks in release.
A TOUCH OF SPICE has surpassed 1.2 million admissions and is still going very strong. It has skewed to all audiences with unprecedented repeat business from all age groups, a phenomenon that last occurred in Greece with "Titanic".
The film has won 8 National Film Awards (including best picture, direction, script, cinematography, editing, sound, music and art direction) and also the People's Choice Award at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. It is now Greece's official choice for the Best Foreign Language Oscar for 2005.

Notes from scriptwriter and director Tassos Boulmetis

I was born in Istanbul in 1957 and moved to Greece along with my family, after the deportation of 1964. After 30 years, I traveled back to Istanbul so as to visit our old house, my father's shop and my grandfather's grocery.

When I rang my school bell, Mrs Emilia, my primary school teacher, opened the door. I hadn't seen her since then. Both my grandfathers were born and died in Istanbul.
Greeks living in Istanbul were active and dynamic members of a healthy community (and not passive and inactive members of a minority). Nevertheless, they had the bad luck to suffer the consequences of a political conflict: on one hand there was a countrywide Turkish policy, which with prowess and enduring patience depopulated a healthy part of the minority and on the other, a short-sighted Greek policy which, without national strategy and vision, led - without realizing it - to the depopulation of the healthy Greek society that lived in Istanbul.

Therefore, the anger that smoulders in my film is mostly addressing Greeks and not my "enemies". "A Touch of Spice" is the life story narration of a man from Istanbul to a diplomat, who is not necessarily on his side…
Ieroklis Michailidis