The Most Powerful Film of All Time: Silent or Otherwise

Rating: 10/10 (17 October 2005)

This is quite the film experience. Not only is it an emotional film with outstanding artistic quality, but it's the most powerful and moving experience ever on film. Falconetti plays Joan of Arc, and she gives an emotionally earth shattering performance, leaving anyone who watches this film absolutely memorized. I believe it when I hear that her performance is the best of all cinema; I have never seen an actress embody a person on film as much as she. Truly powerful and heartbreaking.
Why this isn't on AFI's top 100 list is beyond me, this is the greatest silent film that I have ever seen. Forget The Passion of the Christ; although powerful, it lacked some explanation for non-Christians. This film explains everything perfectly. That and the film is disturbing in a less in-your-face fashion. Watching Joan stand in front of the jury is hard to bear. Seeing her shaved like a dog is heartbreaking, and watching her burn at the pike is one of the most powerful moments in all of cinema. Dreyer made an absolute masterpiece. It was way ahead of its time, and let's just thank the heavens that this film wasn't lost for good. Please, people. Buy this DVD and watch this film. It's an experience; religious or otherwise, that you will never forget. Absolutely perfect.