Eager to escape a post-World war II internment camp after her emigration application to Argentina was denied for her questionable past, Karin (Ingrid Bergman) decides to marry Antonio (Mario Vitale), an Italian prisoner she has met on the other side of a barbed wire fence. Born in Lithuania in 1920 and living in Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia during the war, Karin is hopeful that Antonio's home island of Stromboli off the coast of Italy will provide her with good things. After all, he – a fisherman – has said that it is beautiful.
Not only does she discover that an active volcano dominates the little isle, but also she finds that her existence becomes drearier than ever. Her previous life, although loose, gave her finer things; now she lives on a rockbound island with neither electricity nor modern plumbing. Karin and Antonio are poor, so as the island priest explains, they cannot even afford to emigrate to America or to other places. As Antonio speaks English ineffectually, husband-and-wife communication is weak. Moreover, the women on the island do not like Karin; they feel she is immodest. Karin's only friends are the priest and the lighthouse keeper. She simply does not fit inside of this old world society; Karin is a fish out of water. Antonio does love Karin, but love is not enough. The movie does drag, but it is probably necessary to get the "feel" of Karin's desolation. Although Karin may have some happy moments and even decorates her house, tedium always sets in.
There are two dramatic scenes of note: the tuna catch (very realistic) and the volcanic eruption. The ending is ambiguous, but based on what we have already seen, is most likely not on a positive note. This neo-realistic artistic film was the first collaboration between Roberto Rossellinni and Ingrid Bergman. It was not well received; the affair of Bergman and Rossellinni may have influenced its reception. The rating is based on the uncut version.
Not only does she discover that an active volcano dominates the little isle, but also she finds that her existence becomes drearier than ever. Her previous life, although loose, gave her finer things; now she lives on a rockbound island with neither electricity nor modern plumbing. Karin and Antonio are poor, so as the island priest explains, they cannot even afford to emigrate to America or to other places. As Antonio speaks English ineffectually, husband-and-wife communication is weak. Moreover, the women on the island do not like Karin; they feel she is immodest. Karin's only friends are the priest and the lighthouse keeper. She simply does not fit inside of this old world society; Karin is a fish out of water. Antonio does love Karin, but love is not enough. The movie does drag, but it is probably necessary to get the "feel" of Karin's desolation. Although Karin may have some happy moments and even decorates her house, tedium always sets in.
There are two dramatic scenes of note: the tuna catch (very realistic) and the volcanic eruption. The ending is ambiguous, but based on what we have already seen, is most likely not on a positive note. This neo-realistic artistic film was the first collaboration between Roberto Rossellinni and Ingrid Bergman. It was not well received; the affair of Bergman and Rossellinni may have influenced its reception. The rating is based on the uncut version.