Cinema has long been an effective medium for language learning, offering rich insights into the culture of a country or region. That’s why our school hosts an annual Cineforum, a series of film screenings designed for all those who love Mediterranean languages and cultures.

This year, our Cineforum focuses on the theme of migration—a timely and relevant topic deeply intertwined with language barriers and the challenges of navigating diverse cultures. Each month, we will feature a film that explores a unique migration story, presented in a different language.

This year, all proceeds from Cineforum ticket sales will be donated to Mediterranea Saving Humans, an organization committed to helping migrants stranded in Southern Europe. Taalhuis Amsterdam supports Mediterranea and its projects.

The film evening begins with a brief introduction in English, where our teachers provide insights into the film and its director. After the screening, you’ll have time to discuss the film’s themes and practice speaking the language you’re learning—sometimes with group activities or assignments led by the teacher.

This month, we watch ‘Politiki Kouzina’ (2003) by Tassos Boulmetis.

Time and place: Saturday, 7 December 2024, Muiderstraat 24
Duration: 1h 48m
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Subtitles: English

Program
19:00 – Introduction
19:15 – Film
21:00 – Aftertalk

*The ticket price includes one free drink. The movie has English subtitles and the introduction and after-talk sessions will be in English.

What to expect
Before the screening, our teachers will provide an introduction to the film (in English), offering insights into its context, noteworthy elements, and characteristics of the work and the director. During the introduction, you will be provided with some elements that will allow you to fully enjoy the film, not only from the point of view of its artistic beauty but also from the point of view of its cultural content.

After watching the film, there will be time to discuss and chat more about what we have seen and share discoveries and points of view. If possible, we will use the language you are learning with fellow students, teachers, and native speakers.

About the movie
Πολίτικη κουζίνα (Politiki Kouzina) refers to the cuisine of Konstantinoupoli – the Greek name for Istanbul and often only named Poli (City with a capital) because it was for a long time The City of the Greek-speaking world. The food and way of cooking in this city is one of the cherished cultural elements that came to current-day Greece following the catastrophic events of ‘exchanging’ populations in Greece and Turkey.

This cuisine is the title and decor of ‘Politiki Kouzina’ (A Touch of Spice), a Greek feel-good movie from 2003 with a beautiful soundtrack by Evanthia Reboutsika. The film is directed by Tassos Boulmetis and had a fantastic reception, winning – among others – the Best Film award at the Greek State Film Award.

Fanis, a successful but somewhat bored astronomy and astrophysics professor, goes to Istanbul to visit his grandfather Vassilis. It is no ordinary visit, Grandpa Vassilis is about to die and he and Fanis have not seen each other for 30 years. They haven’t seen each other since Fanis and his family had to leave Turkey in 1964 following the Istanbul Pogrom (1955-1978) when the ethnic Greek community of Istanbul was reduced from 135,000 to 7,000 by a series of government-orchestrated riots, pogroms, and deportations. On his return to Turkey, Fanis recalls his childhood with his grandfather, a spice trader who mentored him, and their terribly painful separation as well as the loss of the place that had once been his home.