Her face is going to be imprinted into my brain for the rest of my life just because I was forced to stare at it for so long. Either crying or carrying a big bug eyed look on her face the whole time. Could any silent era actress not have done that?
You make it sound as though she oscillated between two completely fixed expressions for the entire film but that really isn't the case. She used her expressive eyes to the full, true, but they were effective and there was plenty of subtlety (if that's what you're after) in the movement of her other features.
Look at her quiet resolve when she swears on the Bible that she'll tell the truth.
...or the contented half-smile she gives as she deflects the judges' questions about St. Michael's appearance.
...or the way she twitches her mouth slightly, as if she wants to say something, when she looks down with confused pity at the judge who's fallen to his knees before her.
...or the weary sigh she gives as a question about God's promises to her prompts a moment of self-reflection.
...or how her ecstasy at seeing the cross in the light from the window turns to a look of calm concentration when she starts to thread her wicker crown.
...or the way she looks to be shrugging the question off when she finally answers whether or not she's already in a state of grace.
...or her look of rapt concentration, panting slightly, almost mouthing the words, as she watches the priest begin communion at the foot of her bed.
...or the ambiguous smiles of relief as she's handed a sentence of life imprisonment at the same time that she's assured confessing was the right thing to do.
There really is so much more to Falconetti's performance than you're giving her credit for. Perhaps other silent actors could have done as good a job but I seriously doubt any could have done a better one. Even if we take for granted the dedication evidenced by Falconetti's willingness to be filmed in close-up without make-up or long hair, think about how well she makes Joan into a human being even though Joan spends much of the film wearing a mask of ecstatic self-belief. It's the equivalent of a painter producing a subtle painting while being limited to using only bright colors. It's incredible.
Anyway, you seem to be much more of a fan of silent cinema than I am, so I'm sure I don't need to tell you that you should really give the film a second chance if you ever have the opportunity. It's worth it!
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