Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kultur Video
• DVD Release Date: June 27, 2006
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FII2NY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,761 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

A powerful introduction to the greatest work of medieval literature, which draws upon new dramatic filmed sequences, contemporary images and the work of artists inspired by Dante’s epic voyage of the imagination. This stirring film provides the ideal starting point for the study of this major work. Entertaining and informative, Dante and the Divine Comedy will inspire viewers to want to study this work.
"There is no greater sorrow than to recall happiness in times of misery" - Dante Alighieri (The Inferno)

Visual interpretations of ‘The Divine Comedy’ by the Topiary Dance Group
The Doré illustrations, first published in 1861
New location footage from Florence, Dante’s birthplace
The themes, plot, characters with interpretation and analysis by Professor Zygmont, Dr. Catherine Keen of St John’s College, Cambridge, Dr. Simon Gilson of Warwick University, Dr. Robin Kirkpatrick of Robinson College, Cambridge, plus author and leading Dante authority Dr. Anna Lawrence.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, and worth watching again, August 17, 2007

By 

Ralph Ferdingstadt (Ashland, OR) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dante - The Divine Comedy (DVD)

Recently, I purchased a copy of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's rendition of the Divine Comedy, with drawings by Doré, and thought it was time to look into more background for this landmark work of literature. I already had John Ciardi's more modern translation of the Inferno, with endnotes, which is a very useful tool for studying Dante. But more helpful still is the background material provided here, along with a video presentation of some of the greatest Dante-related masterpieces ever painted, including as you'd guess, works by Hieronymus Bosch. The scholars' comments on this disc are interesting and insightful, and the paintings well documented. My only complaint being; the enactment of the action described in the book is somewhat disposable, although forgivably brief. I have seen the first part of the TV Dante, prepared for the BBC, no longer available, and never released on DVD, and that was very interesting and frightening. I keep holding out hope someone will see fit to release that series as a set, and for either a reissue of the obscure movie, or perhaps a completely new version. A modernized re-telling of the story, with characters from our would, although problematic, would be welcome*. In the meantime, this documentary is an interesting and reasonably scholarly addition to the video library of anyone committed to a serious study of classic literature.


*Someone finally did this. See: Dante's Inferno ~ James Cromwell, John Fleck, Dermot Mulroney, and Martha Plimpton (DVD - 2008). It's worth the purchase price just for the concept alone. The animation style is strange, but it more-or-less sticks to the original concept, in that Dante and Virgil are still going through Hell to get to Purgatory, and the punishments they encounter along the way are oddly appropriate. It's a little more adult oriented, and done with a humorous slant, but it still feels like Dante, and that's what's important.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More than just Inferno, October 17, 2010

By 

Stout House - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dante - The Divine Comedy (DVD)

Unlike most films about Dante's great poem, this hour-long documentary covers all three cantiche, not just Inferno. That alone sets it apart. The live-action representations of Dante, Virgil, and Beatrice aren't especially well done, but the interviews with various British scholars are quite interesting, and the film is bursting with art. Good narration, good music -- an overall professional production that anyone interested in Dante would enjoy. A great visual introduction for high school students as well.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible insight and worthy presentation . . . ., January 5, 2011

By 

J. Munyon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dante - The Divine Comedy (DVD)

Written circa 1300 B.C., by Dante Alighieri (AKA: Dante), "The Divine Comedy" is the first major work written in Italian instead of Latin, and uses Dante himself as the main character in the literary work. It is a journey of despair, revelation, and repentance; towards ultimate salvation. The piece is otherwise referred to as a comedia; as opposed to being a tragedia. Dante was an active poet in an avant garde culture; or a very experimental, innovative time period. Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), Stasinus (son-in-law of Homer), Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus), and Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso); all were strong influences upon Dante. The philosophy, morals, and beliefs of medieval Europe from 1265 B.C. to 1300 B.C., are predominant in this masterpiece.
It has been said that all of us at one point in our lives, become acquainted with our interpretation of someone who epitomizes the essence and beauty of God's love with skin on it. For Dante, that was the woman Beatrice, who plays heavily into his story.
It can be noted that Dante's comedy is divided into 3 parts, as are the kingdoms of Catholic faith, regarding the afterlife - the Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory), and Paradiso (paradise).
The panther of self-indulgent sin, the lion of violent sin, and the she-wolf of malicious sin are parts of the Inferno. "All hope abandon ye, who enter here" being part of what is written upon the gates of hell. Hell is given structure and definition into levels, circles, and other aspects, which categorize the experience.
In purgatory, the sun represents God's light; which is the only time one can travel there. Purgatory is also divided into levels in Dante's comedy; such as anti-purgatory (last minute confessions, those who busied themselves with worldly cares, and those who would have confessed if given a chance before death robbed them of it); next, the gate keeper prepares those who pass into the next level through confession, contrition, and satisfaction. Each of the seven deadly sins requires a commensurate penance. It is here that this DVD assures us Dante's "The Divine Comedy" is not anti-religion, as some assume.
Now we are guided into paradise, which has been interpreted in a spectrum of possibilities of allegorical meaning, by scholars beginning in Dante's own time period, through to this very day. Which is the purpose of including so much art, and the mention of such musical contributions as one by Franz Liszt, the Hungarian composer.
As with the previous kingdoms, it remains true that paradise also is categorized into levels and rings, where the love of God emanates to all within paradise. Thirteenth and fourteenth century astronomy plays into Dante's definition for the structure of paradise.
This DVD is an introduction to Dante's "The Divine Comedy" (a poem of 14,233 lines, each of eleven syllables, divided into 100 cantos; or besides the introduction, 33 cantos for each of the three categories of the afterlife experience), and this DVD should be understood as being only a primer (it does not contain or present Dante's poem in full). There are many images from centuries of art that have been influenced by Dante's comedia. Several scholars help narrate the DVD presentation, which help us understand the backgrounds and meanings of "The Divine Comedy." Whereas this DVD presentation is highly academic and likely to be a quintessentially useful tool for high schools, colleges, or universities; to the less enthusiastic or less spiritually learned, it probably will become a bit tedious and boring. In other words, if you work side by side with a reprehensible, moronic cad who spends more time maliciously conniving up torment and misery for others, giving that person this DVD as a gift will waste your time and money. It takes being concerned with the afterlife and spiritual eternity of man's existence before this movie can help you appreciate, understand, and pique your interest in Dante's "The Divine Comedy." Although, there are entire websites devoted to Dante's poem, and the comprehensive relativity of it, in case you are among the interested.
Having said that, I still give this documentary style DVD a 5 star rating.