Istanbul in the Movies: This Fall

Istanbul

I love when Istanbul gets spotlighted in a film, and this fall, the city is the star in several movies. The streets have been busy, bustling with film crews and top actors. There are some specific locations that film directors seem to love - like the rooftops of the Grand Bazaar.

(That scene is getting old for me. Remember when Clive Owen did it in The International? )

I digress. Here are the trailers:

Taken 2, with Liam Neeson.

In the movie, his daughter runs across the rooftops of the grand bazaar. (Does she always have to be barely dressed?) Of course, I would have preferred if there were some good guys from the city too, but this film seems to get off the roofs and into the streets of today's Istanbul. I give lots of points for that.




Then there's the latest James Bond, Skyfall, where Daniel Craig falls off a bridge in Adana, and yet somehow ends up riding a motorbike on top of the grand bazaar. (Well, I love the bridge scene anyway.)




And lastly, Argo with Ben Affleck, which has scenes set in Iran that were actually filmed in Turkey. I'll actually have to watch this one to see if I recognize anything but the mosque in the trailer.

Here's hoping there are no scenes on the Grand Bazaar rooftops.

The Silk Road

Silk Threads

Marco Polo set out for the east from Venice via the ancient city of Ayas.  Ayas, btw is near Adana, at the mouth of the Seyhan River in modern day Turkey.  The region became an important stop for the silk trade and the Byzantines went over the top as a result. 

Plain silk was an anomaly, in Byzantium everything had pattern or texture and was embroidered with silk or gold threads.  Not exactly Sybil's style, but since Burnt Amber was inspired by a 12th century princess, she had to wear some of it.  Through her lady-in-waiting, we learn a little about the significance of what she wears, each time reflecting Sybil's mood by the color and the details she notices. (Can't spend time on useless details!  Every description has to work double time to be there.) 

Though Turkey is no longer as important to the silk trade, silk fabric is a big part of Turkish style. Top designers today like Vakko still rely on luxurious fabrics and find inspiration in antique Ottoman and Byzantine motifs.


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