奥尔汗已移居在伦敦好多年，这一次他因答应了协助著名作家、导演丹尼斯将其著作改编成电影剧本，而再次回到伊斯坦布尔。丹尼斯家族是本地有悠久历史的望族，奥尔汗被丹尼斯盛情邀往家中，并住在了他家的豪宅里。为了满足奥尔汗对书中人物的探索和好奇，丹尼斯待带着奥尔汗约见了他书中人物的原型。奥尔汗对主人公原型诺威尔一见钟情。晚饭后，奥尔汗与丹尼斯在院中喝酒聊天，奥尔汗酒力不支，迷糊睡去。天亮后丹尼斯却消失不见了。奥尔汗作为最后一个和丹尼斯有接触的人不得不配合警方调查......

一位电影导演召集了他最钟爱的女演员们——那些曾与他合作过的，以及他深爱过的。他想拍摄一部关于女性的电影，却不愿透露太多：他只是观察她们，捕捉灵感，直到他的想象将她们抛入另一个时代，抛向那个缝纫机轰鸣声充斥女性工作场所的往昔岁月。在那里，男性只扮演着微不足道的边缘角色，而电影得以从另一个视角被讲述：服装的视角。在孤独、激情、焦虑、心碎的缺席与牢不可破的羁绊之间，现实与虚构相互渗透，女演员的人生与角色的人生彼此交融，竞争与姐妹情谊交织，可见与不可见的界限逐渐模糊。

Place: Paris and its vicinity
Time: Beginning of the 19th century
Act 1
The salon in Violetta's house
Violetta Valéry, a famed courtesan, throws a lavish party at her Paris salon to celebrate her recovery from an illness. Gastone, a viscount, has brought with him a friend, Alfredo Germont, a young bourgeois from a provincial family who has long adored Violetta from afar. While walking to the salon, Gastone tells Violetta that Alfredo loves her, and that while she was ill, he came to her house every day. Alfredo joins them, admitting the truth of Gastone's remarks.
Baron Douphol, Violetta's current lover, waits nearby to escort her to the salon; once there, the Baron is asked to give a toast, but refuses, and the crowd turns to Alfredo, who agrees to sing a brindisi – a drinking song (Alfredo, Violetta, chorus: Libiamo ne' lieti calici – "Let's drink from the joyful cups").
From the next room, the sound of the orchestra is heard and the guests move there to dance. After a series of severe coughs and almost fainting, Violetta begins to feel dizzy and asks her guests to go ahead and to leave her to rest until she recovers. While the guests dance in the next room, Violetta looks at her pale face in her mirror. Alfredo enters and expresses his concern for her fragile health, later declaring his love for her (Alfredo, Violetta: Un dì, felice, eterea – "One day, happy and ethereal"). At first, she rejects him because his love means nothing to her, but there is something about Alfredo that touches her heart. He is about to leave when she gives him a flower, telling him to return it when it has wilted, which will be the very next day.
After the guests leave, Violetta wonders if Alfredo could actually be the one in her life (Violetta: È strano! ... Ah, fors' è lui – "Ah, perhaps he is the one"). But she concludes that she needs freedom to live her life (Violetta, Alfredo: Sempre libera – "Always free"). From off stage, Alfredo's voice is heard singing about love as he walks down the street.
Act 2
Scene 1: Violetta's country house outside Paris
Three months later, Alfredo and Violetta are living together in a peaceful country house outside Paris. Violetta has fallen in love with Alfredo and she has completely abandoned her former life. Alfredo sings of their happy life together (Alfredo: De' miei bollenti spiriti / Il giovanile ardore – "The youthful ardor of my ebullient spirits"). Annina, the maid, arrives from Paris, and, when questioned by Alfredo, tells him that she went there to sell the horses, carriages and everything owned by Violetta to support their country lifestyle.
Alfredo is shocked to learn this and leaves for Paris immediately to settle matters himself. Violetta returns home and receives an invitation from her friend, Flora, to a party in Paris that evening. Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont, is announced and demands that she break off her relationship with his son for the sake of his family, since he reveals that Violetta's relationship with Alfredo has threatened his daughter's engagement (Giorgio: Pura siccome un angelo, Iddio mi diè una figlia – "Pure as an angel, God gave me a daughter") because of Violetta's reputation. Meanwhile, he reluctantly becomes impressed by Violetta's nobility, something which he did not expect from a courtesan. She responds that she cannot end the relationship because she loves him so much, but Giorgio pleads with her for the sake of his family. With growing remorse, she finally agrees (Violetta, Giorgio: Dite alla giovine, sì bella e pura, – "Tell the young girl, so beautiful and pure,") and says goodbye to Giorgio. In a gesture of gratitude for her kindness and sacrifice, Giorgio kisses her forehead before leaving her weeping alone.
Violetta gives a note to Annina to send to Flora accepting the party invitation and, as she is writing a farewell letter to Alfredo, he enters. She can barely control her sadness and tears; she tells him repeatedly of her unconditional love (Violetta: Amami, Alfredo, amami quant'io t'amo – "Love me, Alfredo, love me as I love you"). Before rushing out and setting off for Paris, she hands the farewell letter to her servant to give to Alfredo.
Soon, the servant brings the letter to Alfredo and, as soon as he has read it, Giorgio returns and attempts to comfort his son, reminding him of his family in Provence (Giorgio: Di Provenza il mar, il suol chi dal cor ti cancellò? – "Who erased the sea, the land of Provence from your heart?"). Alfredo suspects that the Baron is behind his separation with Violetta, and the party invitation, which he finds on the desk, strengthens his suspicions. He decides to confront Violetta at the party. Giorgio tries to stop Alfredo, but he rushes out.
Scene 2: Party at Flora's house
At the party, the Marquis tells Flora that Violetta and Alfredo have separated, much to the amazement of everyone who had previously seen the happy couple. She calls for the entertainers to perform for the guests (Chorus: Noi siamo zingarelle venute da lontano – "We are gypsy girls who have come from afar"; Di Madride noi siam mattadori – "We are matadors from Madrid"). Gastone and his friends join the matadors and sing (Gastone, chorus, dancers: È Piquillo un bel gagliardo Biscaglino mattador – "Piquillo is a bold and handsome matador from Biscay").
Violetta arrives with Baron Douphol. They see Alfredo at the gambling table. When he sees them, Alfredo loudly proclaims that he will take Violetta home with him. Feeling annoyed, the Baron goes to the gambling table and joins him in a game. As they bet, Alfredo wins some large sums until Flora announces that supper is ready. Alfredo leaves with handfuls of money.
As everyone is leaving the room, Violetta has asked Alfredo to see her. Fearing that the Baron's anger will lead him to challenge Alfredo to a duel, she gently asks Alfredo to leave. Alfredo misunderstands her apprehension and demands that she admit that she loves the Baron. In grief, she makes that admission and, furiously, Alfredo calls the guests to witness what he has to say (Questa donna conoscete? – "You know this woman?"). He humiliates and denounces Violetta in front of the guests and then throws his winnings at her feet in payment for her services. She faints onto the floor. The guests reprimand Alfredo: Di donne ignobile insultatore, di qua allontanati, ne desti orror! ("Ignoble insulter of women, go away from here, you fill us with horror!").
In search of his son, Giorgio enters the hall and, knowing the real significance of the scene, denounces his son's behavior (Giorgio, Alfredo, Violetta, chorus: Di sprezzo degno sè stesso rende chi pur nell'ira la donna offende. – "A man, who even in anger, offends a woman renders himself deserving of contempt.").
Flora and the ladies attempt to persuade Violetta to leave the dining room, but Violetta turns to Alfredo: Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core non puoi comprendere tutto l'amore... – "Alfredo, Alfredo, you can't understand all the love in this heart...".
Act 3
Violetta's bedroom
Dr. Grenvil tells Annina that Violetta will not live long since her tuberculosis has worsened. Alone in her room, Violetta reads a letter from Alfredo's father telling her that the Baron was only wounded in his duel with Alfredo. He has informed Alfredo of the sacrifice she has made for him and his sister; and that he is sending his son to see her as quickly as possible to ask for her forgiveness. But Violetta senses it is too late (Violetta: Addio, del passato bei sogni ridenti – "Farewell, lovely, happy dreams of the past").
Annina rushes in the room to tell Violetta of Alfredo's arrival. The lovers are reunited and Alfredo suggests that they leave Paris (Alfredo, Violetta: Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo – "We will leave Paris, O beloved").
But it is too late: she knows her time is up (Alfredo, Violetta: Gran Dio!...morir sì giovane – "Great God!...to die so young"). Alfredo's father enters with the doctor, regretting what he has done. After singing a duet with Alfredo, Violetta suddenly revives, exclaiming that the pain and discomfort have left her. A moment later, she dies in Alfredo's arms.

原片名“Hamam”意指土耳其蒸汽浴室。公共澡堂、游泳池和厕所大概是男同性恋者最常发现自我的地方，中外电影皆然。《男欲天堂》的气氛神秘迷人，主人翁来到异乡，寻找梦想国度，又经历性意识觉醒，故事转折多，很有得发挥，音乐动听，技术制作也很认真。

《男欲天堂》的剧情主线与中国大陆电影《洗澡》有雷同之处，都是外地来的男主角被迫接管澡堂。不过张扬导演的《洗澡》没有同性恋副线，注重伦理亲情描写，太过怀旧伤感，格局小。《男欲天堂》把故事搬到欧亚交界的土耳其，种族、宗教、性癖混淆的文化，都笼罩在一片迷蒙蒸气里，的确充满隐喻和视觉意象，令人期待，可惜意大利导演奥茨佩特克只是轻描淡写，并无意深入挖掘。 《男欲天堂》的主题模糊散漫，导演拍得有点漫不经心，在表现性觉醒方面又很害羞含蓄，使得片子有时看起来像旅游风光片，悠闲惬意，有时候又充满男女情欲纠葛，颇具悬疑气氛。我看这部片的时候，不禁在想，如果由年轻的贝托鲁奇来拍，一定完全不一样。

这部在土耳其拍摄的意大利片，完成于1996年，在美国和世界各地的同性恋影展上很受欢迎，很有名气。发行商把此片当做同志电影来宣传，本也无可厚非，不过如果你看了海报上引人遐思的两个男人裸背，以及具暗示含意的广告词“他继承的遗产是性觉醒”，就以为会看到一群肌肉猛男在公共浴室里裸裎相见的场面，那就搞错了。 其实《男欲天堂》拍的是一男（男主角）两女（老姨妈和年轻妻子）相隔卅年的追寻梦土旅程，怀旧文艺气息很浓，同性恋角度只是“搭便车”，一点不hard-core，反而很斯文友爱，点到为止，连嘴对嘴接吻都是“借位”，摄影机没有直接拍到。

这是导演奥茨佩特克的第一部剧情长片。他的优点是手法平实，不哗众取宠。他显然对土耳其文化非常熟悉尊重，没有把伊斯坦布尔风情拍成观光客猎奇。从街道海景、美酒佳肴到肚皮舞、男孩割礼，都洋溢奇妙亲切的趣味。看过《男欲天堂》的观众，大概都会忍不住想去伊斯坦布尔游玩。

电影一开始，意大利帅哥亚历山德洛·加斯曼跑到伊斯坦布尔接收文化遗产，心不甘情不愿，不料却被这个古老城市迷上了。他也变成当地人的欲望目标，别人看他，他也看别人。

片中不断有男女对望，频频交换眼神的镜头。导演大概是想从男性注视（male gaze）出发，对照异文化∕本文化和异性恋∕同性恋，不过完全没有经营出来，反而让观众看得迷迷茫茫，只想拨开蒸气重雾见青天。

这种迷惑感也跟男主角的表演有关系。亚历山德洛·加斯曼的老爸维多里亚·加斯曼大名鼎鼎，是意大利五、六十年代小生，有“意大利的劳伦斯·奥力佛”美称。亚历山德洛身材高大，外型俊美，演技却不行，在《男欲天堂》里表情空洞平板，从“直”变“弯”的过程很难让人信服。观众不免要问：意大利不缺俊男，男主角在罗马难道没去过公共游泳池，要等到闯进伊斯坦布尔的男人浴室，才受到启蒙？ 有趣的是，西方文学里有很多白种人被异国文化或热带气候改变的名著，电影也拍过很多，最出名的是《情迷四月天》和《窗外有蓝天》那几部喜剧，冰冷、性压抑的英国人跑到意大利度假，脱胎换骨开始享受人生，把意大利描写成回春妙丹，或是解放束缚、寻回自我的乐园。 如果真是这样，那么意大利人自己要去哪里度假充电呢？《男欲天堂》提供一个选择：土耳其。片中老姨妈卅年前就为了享受人生，落脚土耳其。卅年后男主角不知不觉追随她的脚步，他的妻子最后也定居下来，独立小楼，吹着伊斯坦布尔忧郁的海风，衣袂飘飘，成为独立新女性！

值得一提的是，在土耳其人自己拍的电影里，例如近年的《太阳旅程》（Journey to the Sun）和《棺材里翻筋斗》（Somersault in a coffin），伊斯坦布尔并不是像《男欲天堂》所呈现的那么平静安详。