The first light of dawn. The sound of a boat and the screech of birds fill the wide expanse of sea. Black rocks emerge from the water, the “sciara” – the volcanic scoria – of Stromboli, the underwater sulfurous emanations, the layers of reddish rock eroded by the sea. The roar of the volcano can be heard, the flames and the liquid lava are thrown skyward. As nature unleashes itself, the fishermen row toward the shore, the sheep stray and the women return home.
Director: Vittorio De Seta
Writers: Vittorio De Seta
Criterion ChannelYou know, I could swear I've seen some of the footage from this documentary used in a peplum-style drama depicting volcanic disaster in the Mediterranean. Can't think where though. Anyway, what Vittoria De Seta has assembled here are eleven minutes of time-capsule film making. A…
