Watching a horrible film starring Tom Hanks, “Inferno,” I was privy to a most wonderful display of visual history.
The first time I went to Istanbul was with my sister. We stumbled our way through the sites, duly impressed with everything, especially the gorgeous Hagia Sophia World Heritage Site. If you want to see The Hagia Sophia in its beauty, watch the film. If you go and see it today you may be disappointed. It has been returned to “mosque” status under Erdogan. Thus, the once impressive marble floor is carpeted in grass green unfortunateness, you are required to remove your shoes and walk on this cheap covering, and you are prevented from viewing the history of this phenomenal construction which was a Christian church, mosque, museum, and once again, a mosque. Anything of Christian note has been covered in black or prevented from viewing by the public. (At least they haven’t painted over it. Or have they?) You can still be impressed with the size of the structure. That’s something.
So, really awful movie. Great location scenes! Thus, we can glean some amazing visual history from these dated films, and for some of us oldies, a bit of nostalgia.