Stromboli (Stromboli (Terra di Dio))

This film was restored using a combined duplicate negative ...

preserved at Cinecitté Digital Factory.

The image was scanned at a resolution of 2K ...

and then digitally stabilized and cleaned ...

to remove specks, lines, scratches, and splice marks.

The sound was digitally cleaned and background noise reduced ...

while keeping the dynamics and features of the original sound.

The restoration was realized by Cineteca di Bologna ...

at the L'lmmagine Ritrovata laboratory in 2012.

STROMBOLI LAND OF GOD

“They have sought me who before asked not for me.

They have found me who sought me not ...” Isaiah 65:1

SPRING 1948 ...

IN A CAMP FOR DISPLACED PERSONS WHO, BATTERED BY THE WAR,

SOUGHT REFUGE IN ITALY

May I borrow your blue blouse ?

You've all gone crazy ...

since they put the soldiers on the other side of the compound.

The poor men were prisoners for years ...

Now that they're back home, they deserve a little fun.

What did she say ?

That we're worse off because we have no news of our families

and no homes to return to.

They're not here for fun either.

My soldier is still looking for his mother and father.

They were in Cassino, but they had to leave.

Who knows where they are now ?

The poor man's gone to Rome many times to look for them.

Poorboy. He's so big and handsome.

I wish he were my soldier.

Karin.

You hear your sweetheart ?

See you.

- Good luck. - I hope so.

- Hi. - Good evening.

- Well ? - It's cold tonight.

- “Cold” ? - Yes, cold.

Instead of sweet words, you complain it's cold ?

- What do you want me to say ? - Something else.

- Hey, you're not allowed here. - Leave me alone.

I'm not getting in trouble over you.

Like I haven't seen my fair share too.

All right. I'll go.

You leaving or not ? You can't stay here.

All right, Sergeant. I'm going.

Get out of here, boys.

Get out of here. You're not allowed here.

Poor wretches, here we are in this hell

Condemned to tyranny

I like you. Have you decided ?

Take it or leave it.

I don't understand. What do you mean ?

Marry me or leave me.

What's so funny ?

You're crazy. You know nothing about me.

We've spoken a few times through this barbed wire,

and now you want to marry me ?

Of course.

What if you're making a mistake ?

I'm crazy about you.

Later, if you find out I'm different from what you think ?

I know women. If you don't behave, I'll show you !

What does that mean ? I know this one and this one,

and this and this.

I'll slap you.

Oh, you'll spank me.

Damn this thing.

You have to decide.

I can't keep shirking my duties and coming here.

If you really mean it, I'll let you know tomorrow night.

He's simple and nice.

He lives on an island in the Mediterranean.

He says it's beautiful.

Do you like him ?

He speaks a strange dialect.

He's amusing enough,

but he's just a boy.

- What will you do ? - I don't know.

What can I do ?

He wants to marry me. He's crazy.

I'll see tomorrow. It all depends on my visa for Argentina.

If I don't get it, I know what I'll do.

Buenos dias.

- Let's bring this one in. - Very well.

She's the biggest liar in the bunch.

Our information on her defies belief.

She speaks Italian. She was born in Lithuania.

Fine. Bring her in.

- Good morning. - Buenos dias.

Take down her personal information.

First and last name ...

nationality, age ...

father's name, mother's name, and occupation.

- What's your name ? - Karin Bjornsen.

- Place of birth ? - Kovno, Lithuania.

- Date of birth ? - May 8, 1920.

- Father's name ? - Karl Bjornsen.

- Mother's maiden name ? - Maria Pasvalys.

- Occupation ? - Unemployed.

The consul wishes to know how you happen ...

to be interned here.

I lived in Czechoslovakia before the war,

married to an architect who died after the German invasion.

Then I went to Yugoslavia,

and when it was invaded, I fled to Italy.

because the Gestapo was after me ...

I entered Italy secretly

and obtained residence here with false identification papers.

After September 8 ...

though I was being pursued ...

I managed to escape the German police.

Then I was interned by the Italian authorities.

Did you bring the affidavit to emigrate to Argentina ?

The consul says the letter you've submitted isn't enough ...

to authorize your transfer to Argentina.

I was expecting as much.

“You have declared your consent before myself and the witnesses gathered here ...

to marry according to the rite of the Holy Roman Church.

Our Lord Jesus Christ elevated matrimony ...

to the dignity of a sacrament.

This matrimony will produce divine grace

and the effects sanctioned by the sacred canons ...

principally the obligation to support each other

and provide a religious, moral, and physical education for your children,

but it will also have civil effects according to the laws of the state,

which you must respect and observe.”

How will you travel ?

I'll take a train from Rome and get to Messina

and then see about getting to Stromboli.

Here she comes.

Will you get that for me ?

- Thank you. - Good-bye.

- Be sure to write. - All the best.

I'm cold.

Let's go over there.

- Would you like to sit here ? - Thanks a lot.

I want to put my coat on.

I was a prisoner too, in Australia.

I was in South Africa.

- You going to Stromboli ? - Yes.

I'm the lighthouse keeper.

You can see the volcano now.

Come.

Look at the crater.

You see the lava trail ? There's one

on the other side too.

- Is it always active ? - Always.

Look.

Look at the stones

tumbling down to the sea.

Wait.

- My suitcases. - Yes, sit down.

- I'll get them. - Give me the other ones too.

Here.

Vincenzo !

- How are you ? - Fine.

- Grab some of this stuff. - You, grab that suitcase.

Hey, kid, come here !

You go ahead. I'll be right there.

- We should go on ahead ? - Yes.

I'll see you when I come back from the lighthouse.

Yeah, see you.

I'm Antonio Mastrostefano. You know my Aunt Rosaria ?

- Run and tell her I'm here. - Let me carry one !

- Welcome back, Antonio. - Thank you, Father.

- This is my wife. - Nice to meet you, and best wishes.

Thank you, Father.

Welcome.

You got married as soon as you got the papers I sent ?

Fine, fine.

I'm very happy.

I never thought I'd get back here.

It makes me happy when someone comes back ...

and brings his wife here to raise a family.

You see, so many people from here have already left ...

or are waiting to leave

for Argentina, Australia ...

America, France, England ...

wherever they have a relative to send money for the trip.

Life is hard here.

Even the earth is hard.

Yes, but ...

St. Bartolo, our patron saint, will protect you.

It was St. Bartolo ...

who stopped the lava and the fire up there ...

in the great eruption of '41 ...

and saved our homes.

I'm sure you'll be happy here.

This is your home now.

- Thank you, Father. - You're welcome.

Good-bye, Father.

It's a baby.

Why did you kiss the priest's hand ?

It's the custom.

This is a deserted island.

There's no one here.

If there was nobody here, there'd be no baby, right ?

Aunt Rosaria !

Thank God you're finally back. How are you ?

The Madonna was good to me.