SPOILER WARNING. If you haven't ever heard of Joan of Arc, it would be better to learn about her from the film, not this comment.
I want to comment on Jeanne la Pucelle part 2 as well as part 1 here, since the two films shouldn't really be separated; it would be ten times better to see both, rather than either one by itself.
Many people will find these films boring. Unlike other versions of the Joan of Arc story, such as Dreyer's classic silent film "La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc", clever camera angles, or trials, or battles, are avoided. Much of the action is off-stage, and we only learn about it through documentary-style interviews from participants. Where there is action, such as the battle at the end of Part I, or the Dauphin's coronation in Part II, it is usually drawn out so long as to be boring. The other 90% of the film is about waiting. Like real life.
And that is what I think the director intended. While Joan is waiting, we see her talking. And what a talker she is! How can an illiterate peasant woman be given command of an army and become the saviour of France? We hardly ever see real fighting on screen, because Joan's strength is talking not fighting. Joan's innocence, wit, and consistency make it easy to believe that she is speaking for God. But as is said in Part II, she is indeed no angel. We see her wounded twice, and when she finally learns she is about to be burnt, she shows much more fear than any other Joan I have seen. And her humanity is central to her appeal to us and the people around her.
I want to comment on Jeanne la Pucelle part 2 as well as part 1 here, since the two films shouldn't really be separated; it would be ten times better to see both, rather than either one by itself.
Many people will find these films boring. Unlike other versions of the Joan of Arc story, such as Dreyer's classic silent film "La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc", clever camera angles, or trials, or battles, are avoided. Much of the action is off-stage, and we only learn about it through documentary-style interviews from participants. Where there is action, such as the battle at the end of Part I, or the Dauphin's coronation in Part II, it is usually drawn out so long as to be boring. The other 90% of the film is about waiting. Like real life.
And that is what I think the director intended. While Joan is waiting, we see her talking. And what a talker she is! How can an illiterate peasant woman be given command of an army and become the saviour of France? We hardly ever see real fighting on screen, because Joan's strength is talking not fighting. Joan's innocence, wit, and consistency make it easy to believe that she is speaking for God. But as is said in Part II, she is indeed no angel. We see her wounded twice, and when she finally learns she is about to be burnt, she shows much more fear than any other Joan I have seen. And her humanity is central to her appeal to us and the people around her.