Fire at Sea – Film Review by Frank L.

Director: Gianfranco Rosi
Writers: Gianfranco Rosi, Carla Cattani (idea)

This documentary describes life on the small Italian island of Lampedusa 200 kilometres off the Sicilian coast. It is an island that has obtained international prominence in recent times as the landing point for migrants fleeing North Africa for a variety of social and economic reasons. However the inhabitants are of interest too as they seek to go about their lives primarily as a fishing community. In this vein the film centres on a young boy Samuele who likes to go hunting with his catapult. He is a bit of a misfit; the sea holds no attractions for him. He has no sea legs.

The inhabitants’ lives seem separate from the human tragedies taking place around their island and on its shores. The local doctor deals with their medical needs but also has the grisly task of examining the various cadavers that emerge from each transport of human misery often the humans having died of suffocation in the hold of some leaky craft or from the fumes and burns arising from the diesel fuel or a mixture of both. He is an impressive human being. The scenes of each living immigrant being photographed with a number, while understandable, reduces these unfortunate individuals to a very low level of respect. For the tiny indigenous population their numbers are just too numerous for them to be meaningfully involved.

Rosi has carried out all the cinematography himself so one is in awe of his achievement. One voice with minimal resources has brought to public attention in a sensitive and impressive manner the current humanitarian crisis that is engulfing Europe. At the Berlinale this impressive film was justifiably awarded the Golden Bear. It deserves to be seen for many reasons not only for Rosi’s cinematic and story-telling skills but also for the deeply troubling nature of the story itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8Kc5wy0Rxg