Find someone who looks at you the way that Katia and Maurice Krafft look at volcanoes. The French husband-and-wife team were two of the world’s finest volcanologists and would leap into dangerous locales to better study and document erupting volcanoes. The documentary Fire of Love is built upon their extensive archive of stunning nature footage, often mesmerizing and then horrifying to realize how close Katia and particularly Mauriece appear to the explosive action. The movie is narrated by twee filmmaker Miranda July (Kajillionaire) and she sounds so somber that you’re waiting for the story’s inevitable ending, that the two of these passionate volcano nerds got too close to one of their subjects. Katia says, “I follow him, because if he’s going to die I’d rather be with him.” Until then, we explore their relationship as well as their scientific expertise in trying to better warn about erupting volcanoes to prevent future loss of life. It’s a noble effort, one that the Kraffts have to pay for with television specials and global appearances to better fund their research and air travel. I found Fire of Love to be a better nature documentary than an insightful examination of the relationship between these two scientists. The movie’s narration feels given to poetic pontifications that often sound reaching and a tad pretentious. It feels like the movie is a little too desperate to make larger conclusions. Some times, just having access to exclusive and awesome volcano footage can be enough for a 90-minute documentary.

Nate’s Grade: B