Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 5.0
It's not "about" Joan of Arc
First of all, let me say that Luc Besson is the greatest director of all time and this film is a great display of his talents.Now, with that out of the way, it's obvious that Besson took many liberties in his interpretation of the LEGEND of Jean d'Arc. He never claimed to be portraying the events exactly as they happened. After all, a good portion of the film takes place in the mind of Jean, and no one--not even historians--know what that was really like. If you want a history lesson, watch PBS or the History Channel. If you want a thrilling, disturbing, inspiring, gorgeous, brilliant, and innovative lesson in true Christianity, then watch this movie. That's what this movie is all about--Christianity. In a sense it's an anti-Catholicism film; however, it urges a close relationship with God. It displays the horrors of giving over to one's personal desires and ignoring the message of Jesus Christ. The film is an indictment of misinterpretation of the Bible and of feelings of superiority over others. It's not "about" Jean d'Arc! It just uses her--a well-respected and almost idolized figure--to get across a vital message. That message is that we mere humans--all of us, including priests, popes, and saints--can not begin to fathom the purpose of existence, that we do not have the wisdom or the right to judge others, and that giving over to our worldly desires will be the end of us.