Sky Arte documentary explores Rossellini-Magnani-Bergman love triangle

A new documentary titled 'La guerra dei vulcani' (The War of the Volcanoes), directed by Francesco Patierno, will air on Sky Arte on Sunday, May 12. The film is freely inspired by the book of the same name by Alberto Anile and Maria Gabriella Giannice (Le Mani Editore). It examines the romantic and cinematic entanglement between director Roberto Rossellini, actress Anna Magnani, and actress Ingrid Bergman in the early 1950s, set against the backdrop of the Aeolian Islands. At the height of his success, Rossellini—then Magnani's partner—abandoned her for Bergman, leading to a collaboration on the film 'Stromboli' starring Bergman. Magnani's 'revenge' was her participation in another film shot on the Aeolian Islands, 'Vulcano'. Patierno describes Rossellini as 'the prototype of the Mediterranean man: shrewd and surreal, brilliant and naive,' Magnani as 'the diva: presumptuous, brilliant, violent,' and Bergman as 'apparently insecure, making the bravest choice that led to her ostracism from Hollywood.' The documentary also highlights the active volcano on Stromboli as a protagonist, providing the characters with strength for risky decisions. The content of the Sky Arte website is curated by Artribune.