Selamlik

<p><b>An unflinching story about Arab masculinity and homoeroticism</b></p><p>Furat a Syrian in his early 20s
visits Sibki Park in Damascus one of the city's most popular cruising areas. There he learns about the hammams secret meeting places for gay men located throughout the old city. Inside these public baths the air is thick with the scent of bay laurel soap and naked men hide in the steam. Furat faces sometimes violent disapproval from all levels of society-regime religion the man in the street—and yet he manages to find the love he’s been seeking just before his world collapses and he’s forced to flee. <i>Selamlik</i> is the story of Furat’s journey along with that of other refugees. It’s a journey in which they face physical and economic hardship draconian migration laws and the unwelcome grief shame and hatred they’ve carried with them from their ever more distant
pasts. Despite everything Furat remains steadfast in his pursuit of passion pleasure and love.</p>