Fire of Love

Neon | Release Date: July 6, 2022

7.6	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Ratings

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MarkHReviewsAug 1, 2022

Katia and Maurice Krafft met in 1966. They married in 1971 and spent their entire professional careers getting as close as possible to active volcanoes. In a literal sense, their goal was to live life on the edge. They were killed in 1991Katia and Maurice Krafft met in 1966. They married in 1971 and spent their entire professional careers getting as close as possible to active volcanoes. In a literal sense, their goal was to live life on the edge. They were killed in 1991 during the eruption of Mt. Unzen in Japan. The Kraffts were credited with differentiating relatively safe red volcanoes (typified by vast lava flows) from the more deadly, unpredictable gray volcanoes (which create clouds of superheated gas, rock and ash that can travel over 400 miles per hour and kill everything in its path – like Pompeii).

Director Sara Dosa (“The Seer and the Unseen”) and her crew have painstakingly reviewed all the available archival photographs and movies made by the Kraffts to stitch together this documentary, which was produced by Nat Geo. Editors Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput deserve special mention for their efforts.

While the intentions of the creative team are entirely admirable, the project fails to address most of the issues that could have made this material mesmerizing. For example, we learn early on that Katia, a geochemist, was most interested in taking measurements and chronicling volcanic activity. In contrast, Maurice, a geologist, was known for taking risks and wanting to be as close as possible to the mouth of the volcano. How did the two reconcile these major differences? Did Maurice discuss his plans with Katia before taking risks that could leave his wife a widow?

Several metaphors are assumed here, and assumed to carry along this piece. Most obviously, there is the assumption that this couple was passionate about only two things: their work and each other. However, nothing in the film describes or explains their non-professional relationship. The moviegoer is given no context for understanding their marriage away from work.

There’s also the contradiction of two researchers who say they wish to live a life of the mind, focused on their passion for volcanoes. They seem to revel in spending weeks at a time near an active volcano, living in a tent, with only each other as company. However, the Kraffts are also described as “traveling performer volcanologists.” How did Katia and Maurice reconcile their preference for solitude with the reality that they had to constantly give lectures and appear on television to secure the funding needed to support their work?

The archival footage offers some intimation of mortality. Maurice says, “I prefer an intense and short life to a long monotonous one.” Were the two simply altruists who were willing to risk their lives to gain knowledge about how to protect people from the deadliest of volcanoes? Or were they closet adrenaline junkies who needed to place themselves in life-threatening situations?

This film contains some of the most vivid, up-close images ever taken of volcanic activity. And this film demonstrates that the Kraffts contributed significantly to safety measures that protect people when gray volcanoes are active. But ultimately, “Fire of Love” is a tribute to two trailblazing scientists that leaves its most important questions shrouded in volcanic haze.… Expand

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katezoeMar 2, 2023

After reading glowing reviews and critics awards expecting more. Do not recommend. Lots of video volcanoes erupting.

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