Pompei: Below the Clouds(2025)

I shouldn’t have felt misled by the title of this rather dry and repetitive documentary, but I did. Instead of getting something archaeological and historical, I found myself watching something altogether more sociological and anthropic, and I must confess I wasn’t so very interested in that. With Mount Vesuvius making it’s presence felt nearby and with the tectonics beneath them suggesting a degree of planetary…

Reviewed on March 27, 2026

Fewer cinematic experiences are more frustrating than movies that fail to live up to expectations. And, regrettably, such is the case with this latest documentary from writer-director Gianfranco Rosi. While the title and billing for this release lead one to believe that it’s a film about the ancient Roman city of Pompeii and the volcanic catastrophe that destroyed it, there’s surprisingly little in this title…

Reviewed on April 6, 2026