The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (1928)

The Passion of Joan of Arc

Directed by: Carl Theodor Dreyer

Starring: Renée Jeanne Falconetti

Released: 1928

Country of Origin: France

Runtime: 110 min.

Often I find it's much more difficult to write about classic cinema then it is to cover modern works. Films like The Passion of Joan of Arc have been written about, talked about, and praised so much that finding something new or interesting to say about them is near impossible. So don't expect me to say anything profound or enlightening about this film. It's pretty much all been said before and probably worded far more eloquently. In fact, there is a good chance I'll often just regurgitate what other people have said. That being said, this film is gosh darn amazing.

The Passion of Joan of Arc is about the intense trail of, you guessed it, Joan Of Arc. It's a story just about everyone is familiar with, unless you're really sheltered or just ridiculously ignorant. So going into a lot of depth on plot is pointless. Joan is captured, endlessly interrogated and yelled at by super angry catholic people, and then burned at the stake. I'm going to be honest here, a film about Joan of Arc isn't all that appealing to me. If I'm going to pick a film to watch based purely on how interesting the story is to me, a movie based on historical events would not be one I'd choose. However, if all my viewings were based on personal interest in the story, I would have never seen many of my favorite films. I believe that one of the marks of a truly great director is the ability to make any story compelling and worth your time. Which is exactly the case with this film. I was engaged and glued to the screen for its entire run-time. For most film enthusiasts, there is no question that Dreyer was one of the greatest directors ever and possibly the single best of the silent film era. I have only seen two of his films including this one, but I'm sure I'll be fixing that sometime in the near future.

One of the most interesting and often disorienting aspects of the film is how it's shot and cut. Made up primarily of close-up shots, with complete disregard for any sort of establishing shots, Joan of Arc is an intimate and uncomfortable experience. Unlike most films which treat our brains to shots that give us a subconscious understanding of the environments in which the characters interact, this film refuses to allow us to see close to anything but facial expressions. This puts the viewer in such close proximity to its subjects that it creates a emotional bludgeoning effect that can be a little much for people used to a viewing diet primarily made up of modern American films. Even within the context of the silent films, this is a very different experience. Dreyer also refused to allow any sort of make-up on the actors, which with its extreme close-ups adds a level of realism that makes the film feel like, as director Jean Cocteau stated, "a historical document from an era in which the cinema didn't exist." Dreyer presents Joan of Arc in a light unlike most cinematic portrayals of the martyr. We are not shown a courageous warrior clad in armor, but instead a 19 years old girl who is terrified and faced with the conflict of either betraying her beliefs or being burned at the stake. To me, this seems like a far more honest and real presentation and makes the film punch just a little harder on the scale of emotional power.

No discussion of this film would be complete without talking about the absolutely powerful performance of Falconetti as Joan of Arc. It's one of those performances that gets endless praise and it's not without reason. I never seen so much said or expressed with mere facial expression, as she does in this film. Within a single shot there is often a myriad of complex emotions and thoughts and her ability to easily convey those to the viewer is truly a remarkable accomplishment. Dreyer has stated that with Falconetti, he found Joan of Arc reincarnated. Since this was her only film, its hard to imagine her as anything else besides Joan of Arc. While its sad that we aren't able to see this amazing actress in any other roles, it really makes this film something special. After watching this, any mention of Joan of Arc will bring up images from this classic that will burned into my mind forever.

FINAL VERDICT: I would say that this a film that any true fan of cinema should see at some point in their lifetime. However, I understand that many people today have a very hard time getting into and appreciating silent films. The lack of audible speech is something that takes a little more effort and concentration to fully absorb. If you're new to silent films, I'd check out some of the seminal works of Chaplin first. His films are a great gateway to the world of silent films, and City Lights would make a excellent starting point. If you like and are interested in that era of film making after that, give this one a try. Dreyer is not an easy director to "get," but is one that is well worth the effort it takes.