A remarkable, epic story and an all-star cast that makes you wonder: that is In the Hand of Dante (2025) in a nutshell. This large-scale crime drama by Julian Schnabel premiered last summer at the Venice Film Festival to widely varying reactions, and next month anyone with a Netflix subscription can give the film a try for themselves.
Present and past
In the Hand of Dante is based on a novel by is based on the novel by Nick Tosches and tells how the original manuscript of “The Divine Comedy” (by Dante Alighieri) turns up in the clutches of a smuggling gang in the dangerous underworld of New York City. Weary scholar Nick is called upon by the mafia to authenticate the manuscript.
Overwhelmed by temptation, Nick defies the mafia and steals the manuscript in an attempt to have everything his heart desires. He follows a dark and violent path to the so-called paradise with his love Giulietta, while a parallel story unfolds: the journey of Dante himself, a man trapped in a loveless marriage to Gemma and supported only by his mentorship by a strict man. He escapes to Sicily and creates his greatest work, immortalizing his lost love, Beatrice.
Criticism of Gadot
As ambitious as this synopsis appears in advance, the star cast that director and artist Julian Schnabel (At Eternity’s Gate (2018)) has gathered for the occasion. The legendary poet and Nick are played by Frankenstein actor Oscar Isaac. Giuletta and Gemma are played by Gal Gadot, and that had quite a bit of controversy at the premiere in Venice, because many people are critical of her outspoken attitude towards the state of Israel and the political situation in Palestine. Gadot himself decided not to attend the first screening. Butler’s arrival was also boycotted.
Big names
It doesn’t stop at Isaac and Gadot when it comes to big names, because also Gerard Butler, Game of Thrones (2011–2019) star Jason Momoa and aging stars Al Pacino and John Malkovich appear in the film. Even director Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)) has a role. Finally, it is In the Hand of Dante also quite long: the film clocks in at two and a half hours.
4.6
In the Hand of Dante (2025)
Watch on Netflix • Follow the dark and violent path of a man who plunges into a metaphorical hell until he reaches paradise in search of his forbidden and impossible love.
Would you like to give this striking crime drama a chance this summer? From June 24 shall In The Hand of Dante can be streamed on Netflix.
Beeld: Still ‘In the Hand of Dante’ via TMDb
