Based on the first part of Dante Alighieri’s mammoth epic poem The Divine Comedy, L’Inferno faithfully follows the source poem in its representation of the journey of the author Dante through the realm of Hell as guided by the master poet Virgil. The production design is highly influenced by and faithful to the illustrations of Gustave Doré, and is a visual treat for the viewer.
Virgil, at the behest of the late Beatrice, leads Dante downward through the circles of Hell in a quest for spiritual enlightenment. As the eternal consequence of each dominant sin is revealed to Dante, he is in turn moved to experience a full range of human emotions from compassion to indignant anger.
Carl Bennett
Italy 1911; black&white; 69 minutes
Director: Giuseppe de Liguoro
Based on The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri;
Cast: Salvatore Papa, Arturo Pirovano, Giuseppe de Liguoro, Augusto Milla
Digital restoration utilizing 35mm materials from the Library of Congress and from the British Film Institute
Edition producer: Tim Pearce
Christoph Schlingensief, born 1960 in Oberhausen, Germany, filmmaker, theater and opera director, writer and artist, lives and works in Berlin.
Contact: www.schlingensief.com
