TúmeabrasasisanadaptationofSeaFoam，achapterfromCesarePavese’sDialoghiconLeucòpublishedin1947.TheancientGreekpoetSapphoandthenymphBritomartismeetbesidetheseaandhaveaconversationaboutloveanddeath.Sapphoissaidtohavethrownherselfintotheoceanfromlovesickness.Britomartisapparentlytumbledoffacliffandintothewaterwhilefleeingfromaman.Together，thetwodiscussthestoriesandimagesthathaveemergedaroundthemtotryandunderstand，atleastforamoment，thebittersweetnatureofdesire.Thefilmadaptsnotonlythetextbutalsofootnotesandgapsinthestory.Forexample，thefactthat，in1950，adesperatePavesecommittedsuicideinahotelroomwiththisbookbyhisside.OrthatSappho’spoemshavesurvivedonlyinfragments.Orthatseafoamishistoricallyandscientificallyassociatedwithfertilityandbacteria，thatis，withlifeitself.Everythingdiesintheseaandcomesbacktolife，saysBritomartis.TúmeabrasasintroducesnewreadingsandtranslationsthatgobeyondthemythsbyPaveseandSappho.