THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE

"Antonio, my friend and fixer in Positano, is rightly proud of his 80-year-old father, Vito, who has been an octopus and lobster fisherman on the Amalfi Coast all his working life. That is a tour of duty that currently spans 62 years and there is no sign of an imminent denouement. He has leveraged his familiarity with the Tyrrhenian Sea to maximum effect and leads a full and happy life.

Like so many skilled Neapolitan traders, he has no elevated sense of worth, simply regarding himself as the current incumbent of a family practice passed down from generation to generation. There is a palpable sense of custodianship and duty that humbled us all. 

It is not easy to navigate a fishing boat into the visually arresting and tight Fiordo di Furore, but I knew I wanted to film Vito working his craft in there because the backdrop is ridiculously good. It is one of the great sights in the whole of Italy, but that is a known known, and by 9.30 am it is too crowded with tourists and beachgoers to film.  It is an early morning gig for anyone in my profession or a winter job.  

When we arrived at the ocean entrance at around 8.10 am, I had the famous Sports Illustrated swimsuit model - Brooks Nader - in our boat as we were transferring her by sea between sets (that is the only way on the Amalfi Coast).  As our two boats united in the narrow fjord entrance, I could see Vito’s excitement at my company and meanwhile Brooks is far from shy.  Spontaneously, we transferred her into his boat and both boats fought with currents and waves for the right angle for the camera.  It was not easy for anyone, least of all Brooks with that lobster. 

For a glimpse of a second, it came together, and we had our playful parody. When the cameras were laid down and calm was restored, I asked Vito - “What can we tell people?  Who is the woman in your boat?  What is the story?”

“It’s my wife, of course”, he replied with the deadpan face of an Amalfi fisherman who has seen most things in his 80 years. "