A Powerful Experience Not To Be Missed

Rating: Null/10 (17 May 2001)

Watching Carl Theodor Dreyer's silent film masterpiece, "The Passion of Joan of Arc", is one of the most powerful cinematic experiences you will ever have. Amazing direction by Dreyer, with extraordinary acting by Maria Falconetti as Joan, enable the viewer to sense every nuance of Joan's ordeal throughout her trial and eventual execution. The experience is so realistic and overpowering that by the time the fire is lit under her stake, you can practically smell the burning wood.
Almost the whole film is a carefully filmed and edited sequence of close-up shots that emphasize every aspect of Joan's plight, and that enable us to share in the deepest of her feelings. The masterful shot selection takes full advantage of Falconetti's unparalleled performance as she shows us who Joan was. By keeping everything in close, we never take our attention off of what Joan is enduring, and the intensity of the experience is never allowed to dissipate.
After following Joan's lengthy trial and interrogation, the film climaxes with a phenomenal look at her execution. It cycles through shots of Joan, the stake, her tormentors, and the crowd, and occasionally a shot of birds flying gracefully overhead, overwhelming us with moving sensations.
To be sure, this is not the kind of film that casual audiences would necessarily enjoy. What Joan of Arc endured was an unspeakable combination of systematic humiliation and physical agony, and Dreyer's film makes us feel every bit of it. And to appreciate fully some of the details in the film, it probably helps to have some basic historical knowledge of Joan's life - the film starts immediately at the trial, with little or no explanation of prior events. But even if you had no idea who Joan was, watching this account of her would still move you, and you would still come away amazed at her great inner strength - the film is that effective.
If you appreciate dramatic cinema, whether you usually like silents or not, make sure to see this masterpiece when you can.