Pera Palas

Three related stories, anchored in one room of Istanbul's famous Pera Palas hotel, weave through three timelines that span the 20th century. In 1920, an English writer arrives at " The Queen of Cities," and becomes a guest at a royal harem. In 1950, a young American teacher falls in love with an idealistic and charming Turk. In 1995, a gay expatriate comes home to introduce his American lover to his troubled family. A gateway between east and west, Islam and Christianity, past and present, the hotel stands as a bridge between cultures. "Hugely ambitious, PERA PALAS engages the mind and grips the emotions... Its three intertwined stories embrace no less than the destiny of a nation, the liberation of women and the fate of lovers... PERA PALAS pulses with passion and questing intelligence." - The New York Times