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Joan of Arc at the Stake
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Wikipedia article
'Joan of Arc at the Stake' (Italian: 'Giovanna d'Arco al rogo') is a 1954 Italian film directed by Roberto Rossellini and starring his wife Ingrid Bergman, which shows a live performance on December 1953 at the San Carlo Theatre in Naples. It is based on the oratorio 'Jeanne d'Arc au bcher' by Paul Claudel and Arthur Honegger. It was filmed using a color process called Gevacolor.
Plot
The film takes place mostly in a surrealistic fantasy around the time of the execution of Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc, played by Ingrid Bergman, is being burned alive for heresy. In a kind of dream state, she departs from her body and looks back upon her life. She begins this journey depressed and demoralized. However, a priest appears to help guide her. First, he shows her those who accused her in the guise of animal characters, in order to show her their true nature. Then, he shows her the good that she has performed for people. In the end, she is proud of what she has done and is ready to face the flames.
Reception
Like most Bergman and Rossellini collaborations, it did not perform well at the box office.
References
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