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A New Vision of Hell from Divine Comedy to Blade Runner from Dante Alighieri to Ridley Scott

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri and Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, may seem worlds apart, but they share striking thematic and symbolic parallels. Both works explore the journey of self-discovery and the search for meaning in a complex, often dystopian world. Dante’s descent into the Inferno mirrors the dark, neon-lit underworld of Blade Runner, where characters grapple with their humanity and morality. The protagonist, Roy Batty, much like Dante, seeks redemption and understanding as he confronts his mortality. The recurring motif of eyes and vision in Blade Runner—symbolizing perception and truth—echoes Dante’s emphasis on enlightenment and divine insight. Both works ultimately question what it means to be human, blending the spiritual and the existential in their exploration of life’s purpose. These coincidences highlight the timeless nature of their themes, bridging centuries and genres.

  • Paulo de Tarso Souza
    Director
  • Paulo de Tarso Souza
    Writer
  • Dante Alighieri
    Writer
  • Já pro quarto, cachorro! Films
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    46 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 6, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Brazil
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:09
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Distribution Information
  • já pro quarto, cachorro! Films
    Sales Agent
    Country: Brazil
Director Biography - Paulo de Tarso Souza

Paulo de Tarso is a Brazilian architect, visual artist, photographer, sculptor, and draftsman. He lives and works in Brazil, where his artistic practice bridges traditional and contemporary media. Holding both a Master’s degree and a PhD in Multimedia and Visual Arts, Paulo de Tarso has developed a unique approach that combines academic research with visual experimentation.

His works have been featured at Digital Dante, a project of Columbia University dedicated to exploring Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. Currently, Paulo is directing a documentary that draws intriguing parallels between Dante’s Divine Comedy and Ridley Scott’s cinematic universe, revealing deeper connections between medieval literature and modern storytelling than one might expect.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"Hell disappeared and no one noticed."
Martin Marty

Since my master's thesis, I have been studying hell.
We have been talking about it for about 11 years now. It's very strange to study something you don't believe in. Despite the inscription, hell isn't going away, it's alive and well, unfortunately.
There are about 50,000 religions in the world today, it seems clear that we could have 50,000 hells.
It is my duty to study this fiction that tortures billions of people.
My work in films has this theme as a goal. And I'm trying to show how big and how beautiful it could be.
There are no limits to the human imagination.