Stromboli
Plot
Stromboli, directed by Vittorio De Sica in 1950, tells the poignant story of a young couple's struggles to build a new life together on the picturesque Italian island of Stromboli. The film opens with the war having just ended, and a young Lithuanian woman named Anna (played by Maria Schell) fleeing her homeland to start anew. She meets Edoardo (played by Richard Basehart), a charming but rough-around-the-edges Italian man from Stromboli, who proposes to her after a whirlwind romance. Despite their differences, they impulsively tie the knot in a small ceremony. As they settle into married life on the island, Anna is initially swept up in Edoardo's warm and loving nature. However, she soon discovers that life on Stromboli is much more challenging than she anticipated. The villagers are initially cold towards her due to her foreign nationality, and Edoardo's family is skeptical of their hasty union. As tensions mount, Anna struggles to adjust to the island's rustic way of life, which is vastly different from her own experiences in Lithuania. She finds it difficult to adapt to the physical labor required by farm work, and she longs for the comfort and familiarity of her homeland. Edoardo, on the other hand, is deeply rooted in his community and struggles to understand Anna's cultural background. He wants to prove himself as a worthy husband and provider, but his efforts are met with frustration and disappointment. As their relationship reaches a breaking point, Anna begins to question whether she made a mistake by marrying Edoardo. She longs for the freedom and autonomy she knew before her marriage, while Edoardo feels trapped by his own responsibilities and obligations. Through their struggles, Stromboli poignantly explores themes of cultural identity, love, and resilience in the face of adversity. The film's stark realism, beautiful cinematography, and powerful performances make it a poignant portrayal of the challenges faced by those rebuilding their lives after war. Ultimately, Stromboli is a heart-wrenching yet ultimately uplifting tale of two people who must navigate their differences to find common ground and build a life together on the enchanting island that bears his name.
Reviews
Zoey
Rare visuals, where the camera predominantly focuses on framing the movements of individual figures. Bergman, as the protagonist, not only occupies the absolute center of the frame, but other characters in different spaces and the empty shots of natural scenes accumulate into various adverbial, attributive, and descriptive modifiers. From these subtle movements, one can see that the two are indeed a match made in heaven. Ideological conflict, in Rossellini's view, is actually attributed to problems accidentally triggered by the war (rather than legacies). The film's short shot sequences still carry the texture of newsreels, suggesting that the director's basic stance (even when using a single entity as the absolute protagonist) leans towards populist religion or the American way, almost completely...
Eleanor
I never thought Ingrid Bergman was breathtaking before, but that was before I encountered Rossellini. On the big screen, her eyes are captivating, she's graceful and stunningly beautiful. Tuna leaps, volcanoes erupt, but no grand spectacle can compare to her solo performance. Crying is beautiful, silence is beautiful, even breathing is beautiful. This is the exclusive honor bestowed by love, Bergman to Rossellini, Hayworth to Orson Welles, Gong Li to Zhang Yimou.
Matthew
#SIFF2014# After watching this film, I finally understood why Bergman abandoned everything. Under Rossellini's lens, she, who was originally aloof and even cold, was so unconsciously alluring. This allure is innocent, self-absorbed, and earth-shatteringly passionate. The fishing, the volcanic eruption, the arduous trek, all are intensely fervent. Her heart is filled with unwillingness as she, like a caged beast, continues to fight. However, finally witnessing the divine spectacle of nature, her soul gradually finds peace.
Caroline
Rossellini! Absolutely brilliant! It's a shame the Chinese title is so idyllic, making it sound like a romance. The film is more of an exploration of a woman's psyche, set against the backdrop of a spectacular and rare volcanic eruption, portraying a woman trapped in a cage. Rossellini's camera never leaves Bergman for a second, she's just so beautiful... no wonder there were rumors... (Italian version)
Serenity
The Cinémathèque Française: So, women, never marry just to seek stability. You might very well end up living on the edge of a volcano.
