TúmeabrasasisanadaptationofSeaFoam,achapterfromCesarePavese’sDialoghiconLeucòpublishedin1947TheancientGreekpoetSapphoandthenymphBritomartismeetbesidetheseaandhaveaconversationaboutloveanddeathSapphoissaidtohavethrownherselfintotheoceanfromlovesicknessBritomartisapparentlytumbledoffacliffandintothewaterwhilefleeingfromamanTogether,thetwodiscussthestoriesandimagesthathaveemergedaroundthemtotryandunderstand,atleastforamoment,thebittersweetnatureofdesireThefilmadaptsnotonlythetextbutalsofootnotesandgapsinthestoryForexample,thefactthat,in1950,adesperatePavesecommittedsuicideinahotelroomwiththisbookbyhissideOrthatSappho’spoemshavesurvivedonlyinfragmentsOrthatseafoamishistoricallyandscientificallyassociatedwithfertilityandbacteria,thatis,withlifeitselfEverythingdiesintheseaandcomesbacktolife,saysBritomartisTúmeabrasasintroducesnewreadingsandtranslationsthatgobeyondthemythsbyPaveseandSappho