The Passion of Joan of Arc (La passion de Jeanne d'Arc)

Release Year: 1927

Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer

Review: Silence has never been so powerful.  Accompanied by a beautiful score (Voices of Light in my case), 'The Passion of Joan of Ark' is an absolutely spellbinding, breathtaking, experience.  Covering the trial and execution of Joan of Ark and basing it directly from trial records, the plot is fairly straight forward.  And yet, the movie is anything but.  The energy, emotion and passion emanating from every scene is nearly overwhelming

Watching an 80 year old, silent, foreign, religious film sounds like movie torture.  You'd expect straightforward, conservative and dull shots, limited by the technology and the era.  Passion shatters this expectation from about the first scene.  There is nothing traditional or conservative about this film.  Director Carl Theodor Dreyer infuses his film with vigor and energy.  The camera work rivals that of any film from any generation.  With emasculate composition, meticulous framing and dynamic camera positioning there isn't an uninteresting shot in the entire film. The camera is a crucial actor in this film.  Especially without dialog it's vital in conveying the mood, and emotions of a scene.

By changing perspectives Dreyer is able to manipulate the feeling of a scene.  When the camera is looking nearly straight up at the imposing, tyrannical, judges it makes Joan, and audience, feel meek and helpless in the hands of the abusive power.  In the climatic scene where Joan becomes a martyr, the perspective is changed, and its looking down at the crowd and the persecutors signifying Joan's ascension.  She has risen above her fears and is ready to ascend to her place in paradise.  Whether Dreyer is conveying vulnerability with perspective, or a sense of chaos with frantic movement, the use of the camera is mesmerizing.

There can't be a review of Passion without mentioning the mind blowing performance of Renée Jeanne Falconetti.  Her performance as Joan is often quoted as being the best ever captured on film, and that is a claim that is hard to argue with.  The pure emotion and haunting pain that she manages to express is incredible.  The power of expression is on glorious display throughout the film.  The powerful emotions that get evoked from a simple close up of Falconetti's wide eyed, tortured, confused, yet defiant face are astounding.  This is not just the case for Falconetti, but for the entire cast.  Each being distinctive and leaving lasting impressions with a single expression.  Who needs words when so much can be said with a glance?

There isn't much more that can be said about The Passion.  It's an absolute masterpiece.  A timeless treasure that we nearly lost forever.  For a film from this era to have me completely enthralled and on the edge of my seat, is remarkable.  It's groundbreaking cinema to say the least.  If only more movies today were as innovative as this was.  The passion and heart which this film exudes is immense.

Rating: 5/5