Film of the Day: 18

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

Today in 1431, nineteen year old Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen, France.  There have been many films made about Joan of Arc, there was the 1948 film starring Ingrid Bergman and there was the horrible 1999 version with Milla Jovovich.  Yet there were two memorable films were about the trial, one being The Trial of Joan of Arc from 1962 and the other being the greatest silent film and one of the most powerful films I have ever seen.

The film is based upon the record of the trial of Joan of Arc, it is also very unique as the actors are all in close ups with no makeup as Dreyer did not allow any make up, they are hardly ever in a scene itself.   Director Carl Theodor Dreyer has made numerous masterpieces yet non of his films have been shot with such grace and sympathy as this beautiful sad film.  It is widely considered to be a landmark in cinema and Renée Jeanne Falconetti’s performance as Joan of Arc known to be one of the best female performances on screen.  As Pauline Kael put it "may be the finest performance ever recorded on film."

This film had my emotions running from beginning to end I have honestly never felt so emotional over a film in my entire life.  Once you watch this film, her face is imprinted in your mind forever; I myself will never forget those beautiful and haunting little eyes.

click here for a review