Katia and Maurice Krafft, two Asatian French volcanologists spent a great deal of their lives exploring, studying, and documenting their experiences with active volcanos. This was their passion and obsession, and this fascination with the impact of volcanos on our planet also fueled the romance, careers, and the gave them the courage to tread upon some of the most treacherous environments the world has to offer. From National Geographic Documentary Films and Neon comes an amazing documentary which details their passion for volcanos and reveals some of the most incredible footage ever captured on film.
Writer/director Sara Dosa, working with co-writers Shane Boris, Erin Casper, and Jocelyn Chaput, has produced a riveting and fascinating film that utilizes real footage captured by Katia and Maurice’s crews, along with other archival interviews, recordings, and some skillful animation to tell the Krafft’s story. Both Katia and Maurice both had individual enchantments with volcanos, and it is this common ground that drew them to each other and kept their relationship full of excitement and fire. Sadly, it was this love and enthusiasm for their subject that would be their undoing, but their story is definitely one for the ages.
Narrated by filmmaker Miranda July, the film gives audiences a tangible and relevatory feel for all that drove the Kraffts to do what they did and brave the dangers they constantly faced in their work. Unfortunately, I did not get to experience this outstanding documentary on the big screen, but given its settings, I can honestly say that the best way to witness the Kraffts’ story is on an immense cinema screen. While volcanos are treacherous and certainly frightening, the best way to experience anything close to what the Kraffts did is on the largest screen possible. Their story is absolutely powerful on its own, but to do this film and the Kraffts’ experience justice would be to witness it as close as possible to what they felt when they courageously faced these volcanos head-on.