Joan of Arc, also known to some as the Maid of Orleans, is one of the historical figures that really attracted and still attracts lots of film makers. It is probably because of her exceptional genius and specific controversy: on the one hand, the political heroine of France leading her country to battles and victories; on the other hand, a saint so much ahead of her times that the Holy Mother Church found her to be a witch, a heretic. The question arises: how is it that a "witch - daughter of darkness, object of disgust" becomes a "saint - daughter of light, object of praise" As a result, there have been various movie interpretations of her phenomenon, from the emotional and dramatic masterpiece interpretation THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (1928) to some linear biopics and TV series. This one, a movie-documentary made by Robert Bresson is the most unique version.
The whole film, which lasts for slightly more than 1 hour, is a very detailed insight into, as the title suggests, the process of Joan of Arc, the prosecution with the judgment already passed on heretic-saint. There are not many emotions in the movie, it is rather a script chain of questions and answers going from the testimony of her mother at the beginning to the final words of Joan just before her horrible death. There is even hardly any musical score. The cast include mostly non professionals. In that case, someone may say that the movie is not impressive to watch... However, spreading such opinion would harm the film very severely. Why?
Knowing at least a bit the story of Joan, this film provides a viewer with insightful atmosphere and a very unusual way of character development. After about 10 minutes of watching, you feel absorbed in the whole action, you feel as if a witness of a trial - historic prosecution. The tension of questions and answers supplies you with the development of the events in Joan's life. Since here, we do not get any biopic linearly developed whatsoever, we get Joan's words and reaction and on the bases of that, we get to know her. The content is built upon accusation-defense. For instance, the director mentioned one of the strongest accusations against Joan which was the doubt about her chastity. Although women prove the fact of her virginity, some wretched people send the English soldiers to deprive her of that virtue... Another clearly presented problem is the alleged argument that Joan has entirely rejected the ecclesiastical authorities. Therefore, we get a very clear picture of the events, of intentions, of corruption that famous bishop Cauchon and other Inquisitors committed themselves to.
Since the movie is very wordy, its style reflects much a documentary and the cast contain lots of non professionals, there is not much talk of the performances. If anyone here is memorable, this is Florence Delay in the lead. Of course, you cannot compare her to Maria Falconetti's Joan from the 1928 version (this was truly a masterwork), but in terms of lower expectations, Ms Delay does a fine job. Her best moments include the scenes we can see her through a peephole praying (we see her the way her prosecutors watched her) and, obviously, the scene of her death. For me, there was a short but wonderful moment when she says to the bishop: "Beware the Last Jugdment!" Nevertheless, as I have already said before, everything, even the camera, is managed in such a way that any viewer observes the main character being one among the audience. Robert Bresson and Florence Delay invite us to develop that view, our own view of the events. To empathy, we are led only at the final minutes of the film when we get, for instance, the memorable closeup of Joan's bare feet walking towards the stake.
All in all, the time spent on watching this film is not a waste at all. It is a very good film but it requires one thing: the right attitude to interpret the intentions of the director and all people who took part in its production. If you expect some emotional tearjerker or a good action film, or even an epic, this one will surely fail to be your cup of tea. It is a historical trial, a true judgment on the saint brought to screen. 8/10
Just a thought...how is it possible that a group of "pious men" sentenced a saint to death? The answer seems to be simple: all of them knew the Gospel but none lived according to it. The final images of the film, fortunately, make us realize the victory of goodness that should be the greatest dream of every human.
The whole film, which lasts for slightly more than 1 hour, is a very detailed insight into, as the title suggests, the process of Joan of Arc, the prosecution with the judgment already passed on heretic-saint. There are not many emotions in the movie, it is rather a script chain of questions and answers going from the testimony of her mother at the beginning to the final words of Joan just before her horrible death. There is even hardly any musical score. The cast include mostly non professionals. In that case, someone may say that the movie is not impressive to watch... However, spreading such opinion would harm the film very severely. Why?
Knowing at least a bit the story of Joan, this film provides a viewer with insightful atmosphere and a very unusual way of character development. After about 10 minutes of watching, you feel absorbed in the whole action, you feel as if a witness of a trial - historic prosecution. The tension of questions and answers supplies you with the development of the events in Joan's life. Since here, we do not get any biopic linearly developed whatsoever, we get Joan's words and reaction and on the bases of that, we get to know her. The content is built upon accusation-defense. For instance, the director mentioned one of the strongest accusations against Joan which was the doubt about her chastity. Although women prove the fact of her virginity, some wretched people send the English soldiers to deprive her of that virtue... Another clearly presented problem is the alleged argument that Joan has entirely rejected the ecclesiastical authorities. Therefore, we get a very clear picture of the events, of intentions, of corruption that famous bishop Cauchon and other Inquisitors committed themselves to.
Since the movie is very wordy, its style reflects much a documentary and the cast contain lots of non professionals, there is not much talk of the performances. If anyone here is memorable, this is Florence Delay in the lead. Of course, you cannot compare her to Maria Falconetti's Joan from the 1928 version (this was truly a masterwork), but in terms of lower expectations, Ms Delay does a fine job. Her best moments include the scenes we can see her through a peephole praying (we see her the way her prosecutors watched her) and, obviously, the scene of her death. For me, there was a short but wonderful moment when she says to the bishop: "Beware the Last Jugdment!" Nevertheless, as I have already said before, everything, even the camera, is managed in such a way that any viewer observes the main character being one among the audience. Robert Bresson and Florence Delay invite us to develop that view, our own view of the events. To empathy, we are led only at the final minutes of the film when we get, for instance, the memorable closeup of Joan's bare feet walking towards the stake.
All in all, the time spent on watching this film is not a waste at all. It is a very good film but it requires one thing: the right attitude to interpret the intentions of the director and all people who took part in its production. If you expect some emotional tearjerker or a good action film, or even an epic, this one will surely fail to be your cup of tea. It is a historical trial, a true judgment on the saint brought to screen. 8/10
Just a thought...how is it possible that a group of "pious men" sentenced a saint to death? The answer seems to be simple: all of them knew the Gospel but none lived according to it. The final images of the film, fortunately, make us realize the victory of goodness that should be the greatest dream of every human.