FilmSnobReviews

Title: Fire of Love
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Director: Sara Dosa
Starring: Miranda July, Katia, and Maurice Krafft
Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins

What It Is: Katia and Maurice Krafft are a team of volcanologists who also happen to be a married couple. This documentary narrated by independent director Miranda July tells the story of how they came into being expert volcanologists and the lives the two led. The decisions made ultimately changed what types of volcanoes they studied and altered the course of their lives. With personalities as large as the magma pools they study we get an insight into the who and the what of these two brilliant people.

What We Think: Miranda July’s voice is the perfect fit for what Sara Dosa does here. Hers is a calming presence as she presents a tale of two lovers wrapped in magma with all the attitude to spare. Dosa crafts the film with such a delicate touch quite frankly in the hands of a less capable director this documentary probably feels a little stiff and a little stale. Instead, we get a documentary that is so enthralling and interesting it held my attention the whole time. This film never loses you because the Kraffts are charismatic and Dosa showcases them in the proper light. She’s a true star and made this film feel so much better.

Our Grade: A-, I couldn’t be happier to have been pressured into this one. I heard the initial response coming out of the screening and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Well well, they were damn right. It was surely a fantastic documentary and dare I say the best this festival has to offer. We’ll see how that pans out. For now, I can say do not miss this one whenever it launches. You will fall in love with the Krafft much in the way I and many others lucky enough to see this did. Such an expertly crafted film was made with honesty and love.