“Fire of Love” (PG) ****

ON June 3, 1991, Japan’s volcanic Mt Unzen erupted. Among the 43 people who died were Katia and Maurice Krafft. 

Earlier this year (2022), this documentary was released. As well as starring in it, Katia and Maurice filmed much of it, not only catching eye-popping visuals in shooting conditions that make you fear almost continually for their lives, but also, while taking a chronological approach to their work, happily going off on tangents to look at their equally passionate relationship.

They were good people to meet for all those reasons. Knowing the risks better than most people do, they persevered with their work. People are alive today after local authorities had faith in their advice to evacuate an area before it was too late. And many died because that advice was ignored or dismissed.

The images the film shows are rare. I cannot find words to describe the colours and structures that the film of a volcanic eruption generates. Their terrifying shapes and colours are beautiful. Being equipped and on hand to record natural disasters this big as they happened is a coincidence that not many people would care to hang around to share much less film in motion. 

We should also give thanks that it is unlikely that most people now living will ever see an eruption close at hand or from afar. Surviving the experience can be only brief unless you’ve heeded warnings to be far far away while it is happening. If you’ve seen “Fire of Love”, you’ll be better advised than somebody who doesn’t.

At Dendy