The Passion of Joan of Arc

The Passion of Joan of Arc
****/5
Carl Theodor Dreyer

I feel like Dreyer should have waited like 2 years to make this movie. It was really dialogue heavy, which is not necessarily a problem itself. But the fact that the actor's performances were interrupted by long intertitles was somewhat of a detriment to their intense performances. Had this picture been in sound, it could have been distracting to actually hear their words, though.

Even so, this movie is intense. It is an unyeilding portrait of suffering, specifically religious suffering, which is the most extreme.

As far as that goes, though, I have to admit, I liked Day of Wrath a whole lot better. The scenes of religious persecution obviously owe a lot to Joan of Arc, but the themes of suffering, religiosity, and human urges are better expresseed, I feel. There is also the advantage of Day of Wrath telling a story you don't know the end to.

Dreyer's trademark spare sets, atmospheric lighting, and haunting imagery are pervasive. He is one of my favorite filmmakers and consistently succeeds to bring chilling, deep stories to the screen.

Recommendations:
Day of Wrath