Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Stromboli Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 24, 2013

Roberto Rossellini's "Stromboli" (1950) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The release contains two versions of the film, English and Italian. Also included on this release are: short introduction to the film by Roberto Rossellini, exclusive new video interview with Italian film critic Adriano Apra, and Nino Bizzarri's documentary film "Rossellini Under the Volcano". In Italian or English, with optional English and English SDH subtitles. Region-A "locked".

Only you can understand me, Father...

Note: Stromboli is part of Criterion's upcoming 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman Blu-ray box set.

Stromboli, the first collaboration between Italian master Roberto Rossellini and the great Ingrid Bergman, begins in a displaced persons’ camp somewhere in Farfa, Italy. There the beautiful Karen (Bergman), a Lithuanian refigee, hopes to get a permit that will allow her to immigrate to Argentina. While waiting for the Argentinean authorities to review her application, Karen frequently sees Antonio (Mario Vitale), a charming soldier from Sicily who knows only a few words of English.

When her application is rejected, Karen agrees to marry Antonio and go back with him to Stromboli, a small but supposedly very beautiful Mediterranean island. The enthusiastic Antonio immediately promises Karen, in broken English, that they will have a happy life together.

But shortly after they reach Stromboli, Karen begins to question her decision to follow Antonio because the island is very much a place where time seems to have stopped. Excluding a few fishermen, there are hardly any young people around. And not too far away from Antonio’s house, which looks more like a hut, there is an active volcano. Feeling misled, Karen begins questioning her husband, and later on, barely able to contain her anger, she announces that she will leave him as soon as she can. When Antonio vows to work hard to give her what she needs, Karen tells him that he simply does not deserve her.

The local priest occasionally meets Karen and tries to help her understand the way people on Stromboli live their lives, but she becomes even more depressed. Eventually, after the volcano erupts and nearly destroys Antonio’s house, Karen vows to do the impossible - cross the mountain alone and reach the village on the opposite side of the island where she can ask the owner of the only motorboat in the area to transport her back to the mainland.

The majority of Stromboli feels like a documentary feature about an exotic place where life has a very unique rhythm. The camera follows closely the disillusioned Karen as she visits different corners of the island and tries to come to terms with the fact that she has essentially become a prisoner, but large portions of the film are also dedicated to fishing rituals and the seemingly alive volcano.

Both Karen and the volcano undergo fascinating transformations. The first transformation is linked to religious overtones that effectively change the manner in which the film is viewed and ultimately understood. (They are in harsh contrast with its neorealistic qualities). The second mirrors Karen’s behavior. At first calm and seemingly willing to coexist with the fishermen, the volcano suddenly comes alive and then nearly destroys the tiny village.

The message of the film is that life is unpredictable and frequently demanding painful sacrifices. It feels terribly relevant today, when so many women like Bergman’s Karen are willing to risk a lot, or everything, when promised a better future.

Three official versions of Stromboli exist, but according to film scholar Elena Dagrada, an expert on Rossellini's films with Bergman, none can be considered official or complete. They are: RKO’s American version which was released in 1950, a longer international version which was shown at the Venice Film Festival in 1950, and the slightly shorter Italian-language version, Stromboli terra di Dio, which was released in Italian cinemas.

Criterion’s Blu-ray release contains two versions of the film: the English-language version, Stromboli, which runs at approximately 106 minutes, and the Italian-language version, Stromboli terra di Dio, which runs at approximately 100 minutes.

Stromboli Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Roberto Rossellini's Stromboli arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The release contains two versions of the film:

1. Stromboli (English-language version of the film which runs at 01.46. 34./1080p).
2. Stromboli terra di Dio (Italian-language version of the film which runs at 01.40.30./1080p).

Please note that sreencaptures #1-14 are from Stromboli, while screencaptures #15-29 are from Stromboli terra di Dio.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"Criterion's new restoration of Stromboli was created from two sources: the Cineteca di Bologna's recent 2K restoration of the Italian-language version of the film and a 35mm print from George Eastman House, which was transferred in high-definition on a Spirit DataCine and restored by Criterion. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the 35mm optical soundtrack positive of the George Eastman House print and restored by Criterion.

The digital master of Stromboli terra di Dio was produced from a restoration undertaken by Cinecitta Luce, the Cineteca di Bologna, the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, and the Coproduction Office. For their restoration, a digital transfer was created in 2K resolution on an ARRISCAN film scanner from a 35mm cpomposite duplicate negative. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the 35mm optical soundtrack negative and restored by L'Immagine Ritrovata.

Stromboli transfer supervision: Russell Smith.
Scanning: Prime Focus, New York.
Colorist: Alex Berman/Prime Focus.

Stromboli terra di Dio restoration by: L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna, Italy."

The high-definition transfer for Stromboli is a lot healthier than the one used for Europe '51. While there are still a few shaky frame transitions as well as traces of fading, there are no large cuts and damage marks. Generally speaking, contrast levels are also a lot more stable. Detail and clarity are pleasing. The daylight sequences look particularly good (see screencapture #13). Most close-ups also convey pleasing depth even when traces of fading are clearly present. The blacks and whites are well balanced and there is a good range of healthy grays (see screencapture #5). Grain is retained and rather surprisingly well resolved. Also, there are no traces of problematic sharpening corrections. Predictably, despite various inherited limitations the film does have a stable organic look.

Stromboli terra di Dio looks marginally brighter at times. During select sequences, depth is also slightly better. Again, there are no traces of problematic degraining corrections, but some areas of the film where fading has occurred look softer. Edge-enhancement is not a serious issue of concern. Like Stromboli, the Italian-language version also looks very healthy. All in all, Stromboli and Stromboli terra di Dio clearly look healthier and ultimately more convincing on Blu-ray than Europe '51 does. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Stromboli Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0 for Stromboli and Italian LPCM 1.0 for Stromboli terra di Dio. For the record, Criterion have provide optional English SDH subtitles for Stromboli and English subtitles for Stromboli terra di Dio.

Clarity and depth are good. It is also easy to tell that hiss has been removed and various stabilizations performed. However, the sound isn't always crisp. Some of the flute solos on the Italian-language version, in particular, are rather subdued. Clearly, however, this is a source limitation as there are no distortions or serious dynamic fluctuations to report in this review.

Stromboli Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction - director Roberto Rossellini introduces Stromboli in this excerpt from the 1963 French television series Roberto Rossellini Presents. It was directed by Jean-Marie Coldefy. In French, with optional English subtitles. (2 min, 1080p).

• Adriano Apra - in this video interview, Italian film critic Adriano Apra discusses the production history of Stromboli, Roberto Rossellini's relationship with Ingrid Bergman during and after the shooting of the film, the media's reactions towards the film, its director and star, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2011. In Italian, with optional English subtitles. (17 min, 1080i).

• Rossellini Under the Volcano - in this documentary film from 1998, director Nino Bizzarri visits the island of Stromboli where Roberto Rossellini shot his film. Included in the film are interviews with members of Rossellini's filming crew and Mario Vitale (who plays Antonio), archival footage, multiple photographs, various clips from the film (taken from RAI), etc. In Italian, with optional English subtitles. (46 min, 1080i).

Stromboli Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Criterion's Blu-ray release of Roberto Rossellini's Stromboli, a film which has not been easy to see on this side of the Atlantic for years, is a revelation. It contains two versions of the film both of which have been restored and look very good. As far as I am concerned, Criterion's 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman box set is one of the year's must-own releases.