One Of The Best

Rating: Null/10 (29 October 2012)

Since it's all been said, I just wanted to check in with my comments on 'The Passion Of Joan Of Arc". I saw it recently and I am glad I did so. For all movie lovers, this is a must-see. I will try hard to avoid clichés and corn, as many reviewers have already used the thoughts I wanted to put down - and I am a movie-lover not a movie critic.
It is difficult to remain detached from Joan as portrayed by Ms. Falconetti. She gives an extremely sympathetic and powerful performance and draws you to her. You cannot watch her face without feeling as she does and this, combined with Carl Dreyer's direction creates the illusion of reality and the 'suspension of disbelief' is complete.
I thought the use of close-ups was very effective, as much of the film is comprised of them, particularly the harshness of the faces of her tormentors contrasted with the softness of Joan's. I have seen one other of Dreyer's films, "Days of Wrath", and felt the same stark realism and authenticity as depicted here. His films are more than character studies, they are in a sense soul studies. "The Passion Of Joan Of Arc" is the depiction of a true-life tragedy brought back to cinematic life by superb filmmaking.