Starring: Katia and Maurice Krafft. Narrated by Miranda July
Distributor: Madman Films
Runtime: 98 mins. Reviewed in Aug 2022
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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Katia and Maurice Krafft from Alsace were leading experts in the study of volcanoes from the 1970s to 1991. They filmed their activities, close-ups of the eruptions, smoke and fire, lava streams, landslides, contributing to early awareness of potential eruptions.
The fires of love in the title of this documentary feature the huge explosive flames that issue out of active volcanoes. Perhaps the title of the film might also have been Love of Fire.
For audiences who have an interest in volcanoes, their history, the international eruptions over the centuries, the nature of activity below the surface of the volcanic mountains, this is a must-see documentary. One of the sponsors has been National Geographic. For audiences who have merely noticed volcanoes, amazed at the power of their eruptions, the fire, the smoke, the lava streams, the devastating landslides, will find this film very informative.
And, serious and amateur volcanologists will be familiar with the names of the two central characters, Katia and Maurice Krafft, born in the 1940s, married in 1970, with a mutual interest in volcanoes. For 20 years they took their cameras with them as they visited volcanoes, recording as much as possible of the eruptions. Maurice edited their films while Katia wrote and published books.
While much of their footage was available during their lifetime, their sudden deaths at the eruption of Mount Unzen in Japan, June 1991, meant that a lot of the material was archived. It has now been recovered, edited, a voice-over commentary by American actress Miranda July (not to every volcano fan’s taste), and now a feature film. (But, interestingly, no contemporary talking heads, scientists, friends or observers.)
One is just amazed, sitting in the cinema, watching these extraordinary eruptions of nature, the Kraffts always getting close-ups, almost into the eruptions, venturing near the lava flows with cameras. Maurice even stating that he would love to get a canoe and sail down a lava flow. Intrepid is one word that comes to mind about them, their absolute commitment to volcanoes, not only knowing the risks of approaching them but almost indulging in the risks. And, they are on record in saying that they would prefer a short life involved with volcanoes rather than a long and monotonous life without them. And, that is what happened to them before they turned 50.
With their screen presence him and of vast volcano footage, the audience does get quite an impression of each of them, their personalities, the commitment, scientists who wanted to let the experts and politicians know about the realities and be ready for eruptions (some of the material showing an eruption in Colombia where the authorities did not take heed of the information available and hundreds of people were killed, contrasting with the Philippines eruption at Mount Pinatabo soon after where warnings were heeded).
The nature of the film means it is more and more of the same. Some audiences, not so interested in all the detail, may find the film tedious. For others, it is the opening of the experience of volcanology, its excitement, its risks and its achievements.
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