RAGING ISLAND… RAGING PASSIONS!
Lithuanian refugee Karin Björnsen (Ingrid Bergman) marries an Italian fisherman (Mario Vitale) after the war, but finds the island he calls home a horrible, desolate place. The infamous movie where Bergman fell in love with the director (and found her career grinding to a halt) is still technically an classic example of Italian neorealism, but also a surprisingly dull story. Stromboli itself is an exciting place, but it’s hard to put up with Karin’s incessant whining and the message is hardly novel.
1949-Italy. 107 min. B/W. Production, Direction and Story by Roberto Rossellini. Cast: Ingrid Bergman (Karin Björnsen), Mario Vitale (Antonio), Renzo Cesana (The Priest), Mario Sponza.
Trivia: Anna Magnani was reportedly first cast in the lead. Alternative version runs 81 min. and has a different ending.
