2020, UK, 18’17, Dir. Şule Takmaz Nişancıoğlu, English / Turkish subtitles
At one time, there were more than 800 ‘Turkish Baths’ in the UK; today, only 12 of these baths are left intact. This documentary film focuses on a campaign led by a group of women in Newcastle who are trying to save their historic Turkish Baths from closure. At the same time, it documents the journey of a town planner, who also happens to be the film’s director, whose childhood memories prompt her to investigate the history of the UK’s Turkish baths. What makes them Turkish? What motivates local residents to protect these structures that emerged as a result of intercultural fusion? In trying to answer these questions, the film suggests that it is our shared experiences and memories that connect us to the places we live in.