Below the Clouds

Naples is one of the oldest cities in the world, yet its inhabitants live with a constant sense of the impermanence of things. Nearby Mount Vesuvius, which last erupted some 80 years ago, remains active. The ground itself is restless, too, with frequent earthquakes occurring in the area.

In Below the Clouds, Gianfranco Rosi—Guest of Honor at IDFA 2020 and director of award-winning films such as Fire at Sea (2016, about the refugee crisis on Lampedusa) and Sacro GRA (2013, about Rome’s ring road)—traverses the labyrinthine depths of Naples and the surrounding area. Much of the film takes place underground, where archaeologists uncover a Roman villa, firefighters inspect a network of clandestine tunnels, and museum curators look after a cellar filled with stored art treasures.

With exquisite black-and-white cinematography, Rosi interweaves stories that seem fueled by a sense of impending doom. It is as if the world could unravel at any moment—caused by either natural disaster or human aggression. But Below the Clouds is by no means a gloomy film—it is a passionate homage to the residents and visitors of the eternal city of Naples.