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The Trial of Joan of Arc
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Wikipedia article
'The Trial of Joan of Arc' is a 1962 French historical film directed by Robert Bresson. Joan of Arc is played by Florence Delay.
As with Bresson's most renowned films, 'The Trial of Joan of Arc' stars non-professional performers and is filmed in an extremely spare, restrained style. Bresson's screenplay is drawn from the transcriptions of Joan's trial and rehabilitation.
Bresson's 'Joan of Arc' is often compared with 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' (1928) by Carl Theodor Dreyer. Bresson compared that film unfavorably with his own, expressing his dislike of the actors' "grotesque buffooneries" in Dreyer's film.Quoted in Paul Schrader, 'Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer' (1972), ch.2
Synopsis
In 1431 Jeanne, a French peasant girl, is imprisoned for heresy and brought to trial at Rouen. Despite rigorous interrogation by the judges and constant persecution from the jailers, her faith remains unshaken. The relentless theological questioning and argument in court is broken only by an ineffectual attempt at torture and an examination to prove her virginity. Jeanne's insistence that her military ventures were bidden by God is scoffed at by the English, who are anxious to destroy the legend already building around her. In a moment of weakness during the trial, Jeanne recants her faith. She is sentenced to life imprisonment, but when she retracts her earlier confession, the court decrees that she be burned at the stake as a witch.
Cast
*Florence Delay (credited as Florence Carrez) Jeanne d'Arc
*Jean-Claude Fourneau Bishop Cauchon
*Roger Honorat Jean Beaupre
*Marc Jacquier Jean Lematre
*Jean Gillibert Jean de Chatillon
*Michel Herubel Frre Isambert de la Pierre
*Andr Rgnier D'Estivet
*Arthur Le Bau Jean Massieu
*Marcel Darbaud Nicolas de Houppeville
*Philippe Dreux Frre Martin Ladvenu
*Paul-Robert Mimet Guillaume Erard
*Grard Zingg Jean-Lohier
Reception
'The Trial of Joan of Arc' was not warmly received by critics on its original release. While it remains less acclaimed than most of Bresson's previous works, retrospective reviews are nonetheless positive. It holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 8.2/10.
Awards
The film won the Special Jury Prize at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival.
See also
*Cultural depictions of Joan of Arc
References
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