Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The Passion of Joan of Arc

This is a 1927 silent film with the only screen appearance of the legendary actress Maria Falconetti.I wonder what color her eyes were.
The movie is told almost entirely in close-up, to good effect.
Joan is being tried as a heretic by priests who are determined to either break her, or burn her at the stake.
She is condemned.
Joan is prepared for execution.
And led to the stake.
The fires are lit.
This part of the film is very powerful, and difficult to watch.I've seen it in a theater twice, the last time with a symphony orchestra at the American Film Institute. It's quite an experience.

This is from the only intact print known, which was discovered in 1981 in a closet of a Norwegian mental institution.

[edit] From wikipedia: "Her portrayal of Joan of Arc in La Passion is widely considered one of the most astonishing performances ever committed to film, and it would remain her final cinematic role."

2 comments:

phlegmfatale said...

Wow. That looks like an amazing film.

Turk Turon said...

Yeah, it is definitely a unique film, and the ... almost supernatural performance she turned in, and the fact that she never made another film, add to the cachet.