A Touch of Spice Page #4

my punishment for trying to escape.

April 21, 1967... The day that Greek

Millitary Junda came to power

My father was convinced that

in order to forget Saime...

I had to become

a person in uniform.

We wish you

a Merry Christmas!

Come over here son...

A hundred drachmas?

Nobody gave that much...

I always give the Boy

Scouts a big contribution.

Did you add sugar?

Are your folks

from lnstabul?

That's why... In Aidini my

mother only used cinnamon.

What do we have here?

Is the boy for me?

Leave the boy alone.

Get on with it, you have

customers waiting.

Stick around and give me a

hand since you know about cooking.

Take the spoon, I'll

stuff the tomatoes.

I was 5 years old in Aidini,

when the Turks came...

My brother was older.

Last time I saw him,

he was dressed just like you.

When I see a scout I get emotio-

nal and always give something extra.

- Barbara, can you come here?

- What is it again?

Just come here!

Oh those cheapskates,

bargaining and bickering.

They've seen the girl,

fresh as a daisy.

Cook in a brothel...!

I can't imagine how

my son would do that.

That's Boy Scouts for you...

They allegedly go on field trips

to the mountains to learn knots.

But isn't that why

they become scouts?

They teach them

Russian knots!

Instead of teaching them about ethnic

pride, they send them to brothels!

We're peace loving people

from Constantinople.

We know about you,

Mr. Iakovidis...

we know you are a patriot but

you must keep your eyes open.

You must protect your son

from thousands of temptations.

I'll write down a few places

the boy must go frequently.

Firstly, the Royal Gardens,

then the palaces...

then the war museum.

He must learn about the struggle

of the Greeks, become a patriot.

Twice a week after lunch...

Of course...

I was mostly bothered when men in

uniform asked dad the same question...

How long has it been since

your family came from Turkey?

How long has it been since

How long has it been?

From Constantinople you mean?

It's four years now.

- What language do you speak at home?

- Greek of course.

But with a

Turkish dialect?

Does it matter?

Of course, it causes

him make mistakes.

Kolokotronis isn't a verb but a Greek

national hero of the revolution!

You must do something to

vitalize his sense of ethnic pride.

Our heroes must be

emblazoned on his mind.

A few years later...

What's this I see?

Welcome back,

my little Turk!

Greetings to the chef.

Just on time, son.

We wouldn't let

you leave anyway.

You go on with Litsa, when

dinner is ready I'll call you.

The main courses in our cuisine

take you back to your childhood.

You are instantly submerged

in the cook's generous offering...

allowing you to enjoy

the ride.

Until the sound of the phone

is heard, or the doorbell...

or a message.

This morning the Turkish troops,

without prior cause...

without prior warning invaded

the island of Cyprus.

Neglecting any sense of inter-

national law and alliance treaties...

they turned against our

Greek and Cypriot brothers.

All forces in Cyprus are fighting

against the invasion.

Our cuisine is made by people

who left their meal unfinished...

...somewhere else.

Someone is asking for you.

Uncle!

You look well son and

the uniform suits you, right?

Same for you...

I've been told you are doing well.

Do you still have time for school?

Listen Fanis,

I have news for you.

Your grandpa is coming.

Grandpa? When?

That is up to you...

- Up to me, why?

- I'm getting married.

At last! Where is she from

uncle, Buenos Aires?

She's from Kalamata...(in Greece)

She comes from

a military family.

An arranged marriage?

First thing your grandpa will ask

is if she knows how to cook.

The only thing Lela knows how

to cook is fried eggs.

So what does

she need to learn?

Grandpa's favourite has

always been "hunkiar beenti".

Don't be afraid...

It's already dead!

Do you know how tasty it'll be?

They'll be licking their fingers.

Now, we'll add the spices...

For meat we always hide

a bit of garlic and onion.

Hide it?

Why should l?

Because that's

how it goes.

We never hide anything in our

food, whatever we add is visible.

The classes will go on

until next week.

By the time grandpa arrives, you

must know how to cook Hunkiar.

If you want to marry, you'll have

to learn to hide a few things.

- Uncle?

- How is it going?

- Man, isn't it hot in here?

- You should visit the engine room.

What's up with Anna?

She's not bad...

She is from a good family,

military stock...

Look at this...

Amanda in Rome...

Uncle, what are these?

What are they doing here? I sent Grandpa

postcards from all of my ports...

and he sent me x-rays

to show to doctors...

"You travel the world, he'd say,

show them round to get an opinion"...

Naive as I was, I ran to every

doctor and they all laughed.

- What was wrong with him?

- Nothing...

An old wound from 1922.

Do you know why

he sent them Fanis?

Not for the doctors to see,

but for me to see.

In 1955, in 1964...

every time there was

a crisis with the Turks...

I received an x-ray.

Look at her... Zozo...

You could tell what she was

cooking from the way she moved.

Uncle...

Why don't we

cast off now?

No matter how you look Lela, you'll

never know what she's cooking.

All these years you have savored

life, you've travelled the world...

How could you ever spend the

rest of your life eating fried eggs?

Fanis my son, in life there are

two kinds of travellers...

Those that look at the map and

those that look at the mirror.

The ones who look at

the map are leaving...

The ones who look in the

mirror are coming home.

Before this voyage,

I looked in the mirror.

I've found Lela,

she's a nice girl...

from a good home, and I propo-

sed, something I've never done before.

I'll keep my promise...

and I'll marry her.

- What's that?

- That doesn't exist.

Why not?

Most of the stars

you see, don't exist.

We simply see the marks

they left in time.

You should never tell a woman

the stars she sees, don't exist.

I'd rather you talked about

something that isn't visible.

The salt in our food...

So, are you a cook

or an astronomer?

Grandpa says that "gastronomer"

conceals the word "astronomer".

Since your uncle and Lela are

getting married, we'll be relatives.

I don't think my uncle will

be marrying your cousin.

Why not?

That stinks, what is it?

An essential ingredient for

"hunkiar", "kisa mamout"...

What you did

was unforgivable!

Your uncle loves you and

you go and spoil his future.

I did it for him.

She is not good for him.

It'd be a shame for the biggest

charmer to tie the knot with Lela.

She'd get 3rd degree burns,

just by boiling eggs.

And who asked you

to interfere?

At times you have to make a

a mistake with a recipe...

Not in order

to spoil things!

I did it for my uncle and

I'm sure grandpa will agree.

If he finds out the wedding

is off, he won't come.

Let's hope he does come, so something

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