The poet Dante is taken by Virgil through the gates of the city of desolation and into the centre of hell. what he sees is not simply an apocalyptic vision of the punishment that awaits sinners after death but also the very real horrors committed by human hands on earth. the film is based on Gustav Dore’s nineteenth century woodblock engravings illustrating Dante’s The Divine Comedy and all the images are produced by engraving directly into the surface of colour filmstock.
‘An unusually sombre animated short about Dante’s descent into hell, where he suffers nightmarish visions of punishment and apocalyptic folly. Inspired by Dore’s engravings, the animation, which often borders on the abstract, is eloquent, elegant and technically superb.’ Geoff Andrews-Time Out
‘As the poet Dante is conducted by Virgil through the city of desolation into Hell so Paul Bush intersperses these safe, well-known engravings with shots of unexpected, horrific flashes of Man’s inhumanity to God: a do-it-ourselves catalogue of pestilence. Only in the final vision of stars seen as part of a human eye are we allowed the respite of salvation. His Comedy is a brief stab in the dark to illuminate a wholly original talent.’ Tom Hutchinson – Hampstead and Highgate Express
CREDITS
(8 minutes, colour, 1994, scratched into 35mm – 35mm/DCP)
Directed, Animated and Edited by Paul Bush
Featuring the voices of Neale Goodrum and Kevin Graal
Camera – Paul Bush
Sound Designer – Andy Cowton
Animation assistant – Crimp Beringer
Produced by Paul Bush
Copyright Paul Bush 1994
A Paul Bush Production funded by an Arts Council of Great Britain and Channel 4 Animate! award.
Kino award for best animation – 1994 Melbourne Film Festival
Best experimental animation – Cinanima 94, Portugal
Silver Conch – 1996 Bombay International Film Festival
Best of British Animation – BFI touring programme (UK and Ireland)
Animate and Fascinate touring exhibition (UK)
