Cheap The Passion of Joan of Arc - Criterion Collection (DVD) (Maria Falconetti, Eugene Silvain) (Carl Theodor Dreyer) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Passion of Joan of Arc - Criterion Collection

Well crafted and unusual film
Carl Dreyer's "Passion of Joan of Arc" is one of the best made silent films. The editing, camerawork, narrative, and lighting all add up to a stand out piece of movie making. As far as technique goes, it belongs with the one hundred or so best films of the pre-sound era. I can't say that it is an enjoyable experience, though. The subject is grim: the trial and execution (by burning) of Joan of Arc who was a seer, saint, and -remarkably- military leader (at age 19). The setting is even grimmer: the medieval church in all its narrow, hardheaded and hardhearted infamy. There is an oppressive, claustrophobic religiosity about this film that will seem positively creepy to Christians born after Vatican 2. The film isn't inspiring; rather, it gives one the "willies" to see how easily people were charged with being witches and burned alive at the stake-by high placed clerics no less! Many people praise Falconetti's performance as Joan but I found her performance to consist of nothing more than two or three very anquished expressions. This is the type of film you admire for its technique and historical importance while not actually "liking".

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Restored herstorical trial
First off read the editors review, that sums it up. I just would like to add that the film blows you away with its musical score as performed by Annonymous Four. The cinematography and all aspects of film making are of the highest caliber and the music just further mesmerizes and adds to a fantastic performance by Renee Falconetti as Joan. The judges on behalf of the church are very evil and sinister looking, the camera work accentuates this masterfully. One judge has his typically monk fashion do looking demonic with hair ends from the side pointing straight up like horns. It is brilliant characterizations like this and the use of close ups that leads the viewer into what must have been an insane trial. Not to be missed by movie buffs, or anyone with an appreciation of fine film making before color and sound. Actually the musical score does more probably than a dialogue could have, the subtitles are fine and the restoration is like watching a "new" movie. Don't miss this brilliant vision by Carl Dreyer, a true masterpiece.

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A true classic of cinema
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film

This movie is one of the most well known classics of Europe. The 2nd original print, long thought to be lost to fire, was miraculously found in the closet of a mental hospital in Norway in 1981. The 1st original was burned though.

The recent film, "Passion of the Christ" was not the only "passion" film to generate controversy. This film was thought to be anti-England due to its protrayal of their treatment to Joan of Arc. The French were also upset that a non-French and non-Catholic man directed the film. The film's dialoge (by intertitles as it is a silent film) is based on actual transcripts of Joan's trial which have managed to survive also. The film is said to be very moving for some people just like Gibson's "Passion of the Christ." Not being Catholic, I am not sure of what many of the elements of either film may refer to.

The DVD has numerous special features as always.

Audio commentary by Dryer scholar Casper Tybjerg of Copenhagen University (he has a thick Danish accent that is very nice)
Optional soundtrack for Richard Einhorn's "Voices of Light" (a musical piece inspired by the film)alsong with an essay about the music and a libretto booklet.
Production design archive
History of the many different cuts and alternat versions of the film
Audio-only interview with the star's daughter, Hélène Falconetti.