Take a listen. Mubi has debuted a fascinating new making of featurette for the film titled Pompei: Below the Clouds, the latest compelling observational documentary by the Italian filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi. It’s an 8 minute look at Oscar winning composer Daniel Blumberg crafting this very unique lo-fi score, comprised more of sounds than melodies. The film initially premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival last year, under the name Sotto le nuvole (just Below the Clouds) to many excellent reviews (view the trailer) and acclaim. It’s a special cinematic B&W portrait of life in the city of Naples, Italy in the south. Naples is a city forever marked by the looming presence of Mount Vesuvius (which destroyed Pompeii back in 79 AD). Beneath the quiet threat of eruption, people go about their days: archaeologists unearth the past, children learn as the earth hums, firefighters wait for the next call. “Below the clouds lies a territory criss-crossed by inhabitants, worshippers, tourists and archaeologists excavating the past — and by those who, in museums, strive to give new life and meaning to statues, fragments and ruins.” Currently playing in US theaters this month. The full album Blumberg created will be out in April. One of my favorite new composers in cinema. // Continue Reading ›
