Forces Of Darkness

Rating: Null/10 (22 May 2009)

Historically compressed, this reenactment of the trial and subsequent murder of French martyr Jeanne d'Arc (Maria Falconetti) is a famous silent film that has had a torturous past. The film was initially censored. Then the negative was destroyed. A second negative somehow survived but went undiscovered for fifty years.
The film is unusual in several regards. First, it has very little action. A big part of the film is the interrogation of Jeanne by Church hierarchy, hostile old men who fear her dedication and inner conviction. Second, camera shots are mostly close-ups, or of medium range. This strips images of background distractions in the interrogation sessions. Props and scenery are thus either absent or largely irrelevant.
The only consideration is the interplay between Jeanne and her tormentors. Camera lighting is bright when focused on the faces of the monks and judges. And none of the actors wore makeup, another unusual trait of this film. The visuals thus present these men as forces of darkness, looking hideous, barbaric, and cruel, unable to hide behind their righteousness or religious ritual.
By contrast, Jeanne comes across as sincere, courageous, honest, and unwavering in her convictions. Falconetti gives a really fine performance. Some critics regard it as one of the greatest performances in film history. Falconetti seems to have the ability to cry on cue.
After the interrogation, Jeanne is led outdoors where she is roped to a stake. The townsfolk gather to watch. Their sympathies, judged by their crying and grim faces, clearly side with Jeanne. The film's climax is uncompromising. The images at the end are quite potent.
This is a true story of a lone individual up against an arrogant, institutional bully. No wonder Jeanne d'Arc is now regarded as a Saint. The DVD provides a couple of options for watching this silent film: one with no sound at all, the other with the "Voices of Light" music track. I prefer the latter because the classical music instills a sense of historical majesty and grandeur to this simple, but powerful film.