Explore the historical background of medieval Florence from 1216 to Dante's birth in 1265, dramatic details of Dante's childhood, education and early literary and political career, culminating in his exile in 1302, and his decision to begin The Divine Comedy in 1306.

Explore Dante's experience in exile, and his completion of the last two parts of the "Comedy," shortly before his death in Ravennain 1321. Interweaving soaring scenes drawn from Purgatory and Paradise, the film goes on to explore the afterlife and literary and cultural fate of Dante's masterpiece from the time of his death down to today.