Hey! I know that name!

I don't think I've ever talked about a film that wasn't geared towards children on this blog.

But in this case I'll make an exception. You'll see why in a minute.

On January 20th the World Premiere of Dante's Inferno  was shown at the Slamdance Film Festival in the 21+ Film Series.

This film was born out of a project by Sandow Birk and Marcus Sanders. A modern adaptation in words and paintings of Dante Alighieri's masterwork, The Divine Comedy. Birk's paintings reinterpreted the circles of Date's hell in an altogether modern fashion while still echoing the moody beauty and tenor of Gustave Dore's illustrations.

As an example:

Gustave Dore -

Sandow Birk -

I don't own a copy of Birk and Sander's adaptation of The Divine Comedy ... yet. But you can bet it will be on my wishlist.

So this was the starting point for this movie. Using Birk's illustrations as a blueprint, the movie is told entirely with miniature paper puppets on a toy theater stage. More than 500 intricate puppets were created for the production.

I could go on and on talking about the film and its innovative use of zero technology (in the form of CGI), as well as its funny and disconcerting take on the circles of hell, but you really have to see it for yourself.

You see?

The film is comfortable in its depiction of hell as the everyday seediness of modern life. The puppets and scenery are lush but not polished in just the right way and the obviousness of the sticks and wires that hold the puppets intrigue me.

The plain language and use of current politics (and politicians) fits in well with Dante's original manuscript which did not shy away from the politics of his day. Nearly seven hundred  years ago, when Dante crafted The Inferno it spoke to his readers with a currentness that I think this film accurately captures for those of us in 2007.

Of course it's not like I actually SAW the movie. Are you kidding? Slamdance is in Park City in the Land of Dooce. No, I was in Jersey the whole time watching the same trailer that you just saw - only I watched it FORTY-FOUR times in a row. Now if that don't make me an expert, I don't know what does.

Comments

[Glennia]

That video was awesome. Thanks for sharing it.