An Inhabited Volcano

Approximately every forty years, the La Palma volcano in the Canary Islands comes into activity. Originally from the island, the filmmakers had hoped to one day experience such an eruption, without imagining that it would take place just two kilometers from the house of one of their close friends. During the months of activity of the volcano, they talk on WhatsApp with their circle of friends. It is this intimate material, affection for the nature and ties of friendship, which underlies the images.

“An Inhabited Volcano” is a collective portrait of the friendship and the spirit of the people of a land, which from time to time, have to live through the hypnotic and devastating power of nature.

"There is also a scene where an old lady reminisces about past volcanic eruptions as life goes on, despite the fact that a natural, untameable beast is roaring just a few kilometres away: a fearsomely ferocious monster that came calling, and which these people had no option but to live with, standing united in the face of adversity." (Alfonso Rivera, Cineuropa)

It's fresh and original and basically about the life we're living now. Observing catastrophy from home, connected to others virtually. The film not only grasps the topic of life, but that the topic reveals itself in the impressive visual form.

The Q&A with the director will be led by the anthropologist Aliki Švandere.