Film · Documentary

Spirits and Rocks: An Azorean Myth (2020)

From the ocean, a volcanic island rises into steamy mist. The black rock of the earth stands in sharp contrast to the billowing vapor that hovers and drifts above the surface. A narrator describes how the island’s first inhabitants sought to explain the violent eruption by attributing the devastation to the wrath of angry gods. With breathtaking black-and-white cinematography, this poetic exploration considers the human relationship to this volatile land, where residents live alongside the looming threat of eruption with reverence, fear, and awe. A collection of scenes where dark and light miraculously coexist illuminates both the physical and spiritual landscapes of this extraordinary place, where life endures the perils of the natural world.

Director

Aylin Gökmen

Country

Portugal, Switzerland

Language

Portuguese

Release date

August 5, 2020

Original title

Espíritos e Rochas: um Mito Açoriano