Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 5.0
No more heroics, please
Format: BlurayMovie: 9.5/10Picture: 8/10Audio: 9/10Extra: 1/10This is a great and rare movie that takes a critical view of a of piece of "well-known" history. It provides a plausible explanation to the "Joan miracle", much better than the readily accepted one.No one in this movie is a heroes, a saint, or, for that matter, a devil. Everyone is self-serving in his/her own way and behaving just like a human being. Joan was driven by her single-minded hatred for the English and her wish to drive away the invaders. The French crown prince just wanted his crown. The English wanted Joan convicted as a heretic so as to nullify the claim that "god is on their side". The church wanted to stay out of it because it wanted look aloof and impartial to all Christians, French as well as English. It has nothing to gain in engaging in religious controversy.Joan was a charismatic leader because of her single-mindedness and her conviction of a greater purpose. This is a quality people cluster to in a time of turmoil. Think of the Hitlers of our world. It is only human to have doubts, but we are charmed by people who don't. There is a fine line between charm and insanity.The movie is roughly divided into two parts: the first part about the fighting is gritty and realistic, no heroism, just plain and brutal. The second part deals with the question of faith. Had Joan been firm to her believe, no one could accuse her of anything. Her claims of miracle was as legitimate as that of any saints in history. Her incrimination was only possible when she began to doubt herself. Dustin Hoffman was her conscience and self-doubt.Ask yourself this question: if there is a god, why would he take the side of the French? The English king came from a line of Normand aristocrat and has as much claim to the French throne the French crown prince. Why would god take sides in any human conflict at all? All war sprung from greed and the failure to settle matters in a civilized manner. No more heroics, please.