A Touch of Spice – Politiki Kouzina (2003)

Directed by: Tassos Boulmetis | 108 minutes | drama, comedy | Actors: Georges Corraface, Ieroklis Michaelidis, Renia Louizidou, Stelios Mainas, Tamer Karadagli, Basak Köklükaya, Tassos Bandis, Markos Osse, Thodoros Exarchos, Yannis Firios, Pavlos Orkopoulos, Odysseas Papaspiliopoulos

The Greek/Turkish production ‘A Touch of Spice’ (‘Poulitiki Kouzina’) is not difficult to place. The ingredients are a pinch of ‘Amélie’ and a dash of ‘Stanno Tutti Bene’, with a generous splash of ‘Como Aqua Para Chocolate’ (‘Like Water for Chocolate’) serving as a binding agent. A fairytale atmosphere, therefore, mixed with humor and melancholy and held together by a culinary motif.

That could make for a wonderful film, but unfortunately ‘A Touch of Spice’ is in many ways too good and too clever. Grandpa’s quasi-profound comments, the clichéd turns and recurring elements (such as the red umbrella and the aunt with Parkinson’s): it all seems to come straight from the handbook for the novice screenwriter. Original ideas are barely visible, so that the film becomes very predictable after a while. In addition, some story elements seem too coincidental and too focused on effect.

What this production has as a big plus is the political layer that lurks beneath its surface. ‘A Touch of Spice’ is not only the story of a young exile in Athens, but mainly tells about the difficult relationship between Greece and Turkey. This relationship is reflected in the story in the relationship between the Greek boy Fanis and his Turkish childhood sweetheart Saime. The children appear to have a lot in common, they understand each other completely and what one lacks, the other supplements. Ultimately, it is the rulers (politicians and the army) who drive these people apart. In that light, the ending of the film is as original as it is realistic.

Add it all up and ‘A Touch of Spice’ isn’t a bad film, but it certainly isn’t a masterpiece either. It is, however, a film that with its sympathetic characters, humane undertone and melancholy atmosphere is never boring. In addition, the photogenic dishes ensure that you regularly drool in front of the screen. If director and screenwriter Tassos Boulmetis chooses a little less safe path with his next production, then there is probably still a topper in the Greek barrel. A little bit of pepper would do wonders.