Fire of Love Documentary Recommendation. Four or five THiNC. Spotlights ago I highlighted this movie, Fire of Love, but then it didn’t seem to actually make its way into the world. Or my information was wrong… which can’t be the case, because I’m never wrong. (cough). Regardless, Fire of Love is now widely available and should be watched far and wide… especially if you are into documentaries. Especially especially if you are into volcanoes. And especially especially especially if you are into volcanic love stories that eventually consume their lovers. Yeah, I know, morbid. But you thought I was watching for the science? Hah. Nah, I wanted to know how this couple, who fell so passionately in love with each other, and with the world’s volcanoes, managed to get killed by a volcano. The plays the thing wherein we catch the conscience of a King!
The story of Catherine Joséphine “Katia” Krafft and her husband, Maurice Paul Krafft has been documented by Werner Herzog (“Into the Inferno” – see what he did there?).
Werner Herzog’s documentaries Into the Inferno and The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft highlight them. And now, a new documentary, Fire of Love, utilizes their own footage telling the story of their passion for each other and their volcanoes. The movie had its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, taking home the Oppenheim Editing Award in the U.S. Documentary category… rightfully, in that it must have been a horrid fright pulling their lives together so fluidly from their own footage after the fact. Years later.
These Two Were Insane…
I haven’t been this on edge watching a documentary since watching Free Solo (which, is a totally different level of insane, but insane all the same.). This couple had a death wish from day one. Watching them running on, through, under, over, and way too up in all these super powerful mountain’s business was really unnerving for me. Especially seeing as though you had to be an idiot to not know how this movie was going to end. I mean, not how, but how. You know what I mean.
Katia and Maurice Krafft loved two things — each other and volcanoes. For two decades, the daring French volcanologist couple roamed the planet, chasing eruptions and documenting their discoveries. Ultimately, they lost their lives in a 1991 volcanic explosion, leaving a legacy that forever enriched our knowledge of the natural world. Director Sara Dosa and the filmmaking team fashion a lyrical celebration of the intrepid scientists’ spirit of adventure, drawing from the Kraffts’ spectacular archive. FIRE OF LOVE tells a story of primordial creation and destruction, following two bold explorers as they venture into the unknown, all for the sake of love.
That’s all well and good – but how did the couple die? Well, the couple decided that they would make a film about volcanic hazards… a film warning governments and hopefully encouraging action and support of the people impacted by them. After a year or so of work, they were finally able to catch video of pyroclastic surges in Alaska from about 50 meters away. To say it was dangerous is an understatement of epic proportions. “You’re just a fly in a saucepan of milk that’s boiling over.” says Katia in more understatements. These people are brilliant at them.
“It was a completely silent thing to see. And we kept getting closer and closer in order to witness it! It was a singular moment for us, so we thought, let’s risk it!” This is why the film won the editorial award at Sundance. Then, in Japan, in order to investigate the eruption of Mount Unzen, they ventured much too close after having their view obscured by clouds. Only to be overcome by the scariest thing I’ve ever seen caught on film. Literally those 5 seconds of film were worth the price of admission.
And the couple? Their “markings” were found next to each other… and the only thing recovered was a watch, and a camera. Man, do I love brilliantly made documentaries, and this is one of the best. Hats off National Geographic. Hats off.
Edited by: CY