Stromboli (1950)
The premise is immediately interesting with woman so clearly out of place in a rigid, insular fishing village, but while Bergman’s performance impressively captures her loneliness the film halted for me beyond that. Several long scenes that go nowhere or in circles. The dialogue, shaped by the language barrier is intentionally simple, but clunky delivered. There is a heavy melodrama running through that I had a difficult time connecting to. The final sequence, with Bergman lost on the volcano, is clearly meant to carry emotional weight, but it left me unmoved. It is an interesting film as being part of the Rossellini and Bergman collaboration and likely in some manner reflecting on their own affair and marriage, but Journey to Italy still stands as the strongest one.
Rating: 2.5