The Passion of Joan of Arc – one of the greatest screen performances

One of three silent movies featured in Sight & Sound’s latest poll of the 10 greatest pictures of all time, The Passion of Joan of Arc was made in France by the Danish master Carl Theodor Dreyer. To play the 19-year-old “Maid” he chose the 35-year-old Renée Falconetti, a French stage star specialising in light comedy. In keeping with his devotion to realism and austerity, his screenplay was based largely on a contemporary transcript of Joan’s trial for heresy that concluded with her execution in 1431.

Carefully framed in claustrophobic settings, the picture is most notable for its close-ups, though Dreyer insisted on a whole town being built to represent medieval Rouen. This was Falconetti’s only major film, and over a period of a year under Dreyer’s direction (a combination of cruelty and patience) her extraordinarily expressive face made for one of the greatest, most harrowing screen performances.

This carefully produced disc features two versions of the film: the one screened at the Copenhagen premiere (as Dreyer intended, it has no credits) and a 1952 print that has credits, a historical introduction and baroque music.