MovieChat Forums > La passion de Jeanne d'Arc (1928) Discussion > Wow, just wow...

Wow, just wow...

posted 16 years ago by happyhades
31 replies | jump to latest

I just watched it and feel like I have to revise all my previous ratings on IMDb. Too bad there isn't a 12...anyway...who cares about ratings?

This is really something else. Pure cinema. Falconetti's performance is one of the best if no THE best I have ever seen. The cutting is amazing, especially during the trial. The series of reacion cuts really tells the story of what is going on solely by use of facial expressions. Cutting from one close-up to the other.

The cinematography is excellent. The camera work is also amazing...notice how during the trial the camera is positioned low to look up on the judges, and positioned high to look down on Jeanne. Increadibly effective...pure genious!

My apologies if this takes form as a rant, but I just saw it...and I am very inspired :)

Probably the most impressive feature of the movie in my opinion is it's ability to tell a story by almost sole use of close-ups. There is no elaboration...just what you see. Truely a masterpiece!

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] lumet 16 years ago

You may never see a better performance in the history of cinema. Why this is NOT in the top 250 is beyond me.......

[–] anonchap 16 years ago

Because of anti-Catholicism.

[–] arian_8769 16 years ago

Because of anti-Catholicism.
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No. Because of anti artist-ism or whatever you call it!!!

[–] CuriousDan 16 years ago

Because the number of Star Wars fanboys and general pop culture self-proclaimed nerds is overwhelming?

[–] insectos_david 11 years ago

The answer is beacuse it doesn't have the required minumun 25,000 ratings. The 8.2 it has is more than enough to get included, but not the number of votes.

[–] dannylerch 10 years ago

I think it is because the film was lost for so long. And upon its re release it didn't reach everyone it should have because it was a silent film. I agree that it is a masterpiece but this one kind of fell between the cracks and missed its chance to be seen by the masses.

[–] sth78 7 years ago

It is in the Top 250 now.

[–] AhaVanuR_24 16 years ago

Pure cinema.

As opposed to what? Some half-movie, half-painting freak of art?

The cutting is amazing, especially during the trial. The series of reacion cuts really tells the story of what is going on solely by use of facial expressions. Cutting from one close-up to the other.

The cinematography is excellent. The camera work is also amazing...notice how during the trial the camera is positioned low to look up on the judges, and positioned high to look down on Jeanne. Increadibly effective...pure genious!

I agree that the cinematography is good, but it was far from excellent, Many frames are far from well-framed - the tracking shot from the left of the audience to the right is a special example of this. It's different, but hardly anything to write home about.

The most impressive feature of the movie is the performance by Maria Falconetti. Everything else is a second consideration.

Believe me, you don't want Hannibal Lecter inside your head."

[–] teejay6682 16 years ago

i LOVE THIS MOVIE. i agree wtih all the enthusiastic points made by previous posters.

[–] TheeMortyToad 16 years ago

I agree. I have only just recently seen this film with the Voices Of Light as the soundtrack. I do not think that I have ever been so moved buy a film in recent years. Maria Falconetti is incredible. Her eyes will haunt me for some time to come.

[–] ltarex 16 years ago

I know all what you mean. This is just a fantastic piece of art. I was just watching it for the third time and I'm totally amazed all the time I see it. If there would be justice this would be Number One on IMDB's so called list and not some Batman movie....

"A voice from behind me reminds me. Spread out your wings you are an angel."

[–] maneatingbear 15 years ago

Yes, this could be the greatest performance ever by a film actress. Easily the equal of the best of De Niro or Brando.

[–] wuigee 15 years ago

I just watched this masterpiece too. I've never been so drawn into a silent film before. I was engaged in the film every second.

[–] oh_no_mrbill 11 years ago

She reminds me of Daniel Day-Lewis at his best, commanding the screen to such an extent that you absolutely cannot take your eyes off of her. I can't believe this was her last performance ever in a movie. I agree, easily the equal of any actor past or present.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] OzTovarishch 15 years ago

I, too, first watched this film only two days ago and, like Alicia, the previous poster, was utterly bowled over by it. I watched the Criterion edition, with the Voices of Light soundtrack, which I found a stunning soundtrack for the film. Incidentally, I have had the CD of Voices of Light for over ten years and liked it but it didn't exactly take my breath away and, while it is written as a piece that is intended to be able to stand on its own, I think that it really belongs with the film and creates a truly overwhelming experience when it is heard alongside this amazing film.

The film, conversely, is stunning whether you watch it with or without the soundtrack. The performance of Renee Falconetti is just unbelievable - simple, unpretentious, but unrelenting in its intensity, and in its sustained portrayal of such profound sadness, despair, fear, and, at times, even ecstasy. I have never seen anything like it. I too, like so many others, have ben very much haunted by this film and know that I will come back to it many times.

[–] niceguy_2106 15 years ago

I saw it back in University… when my teacher told us it was practically all shoot in a single room with a shaved hair woman, I thought it will be a boring and stupid film. I was definitely mistaken! It's one of the best performance I ever seen. You can feel her pain, her fight… it's just amazing. It’s a shame that just a few had the privilege to see such a work of art. Films like this should be as famous and known as Star Wars or Psycho. Definitely a classic.

[–] herr-zipp 15 years ago

I saw this film now the second time (first time was January 2008) and both times accompanied by the music score written by Jo van den Booren in 1985, played live by a complete symphony orchestra. It is overwhelming and left the audience so touched that it took more than 10 seconds of total silence before the applause started very slowly (and then reached a long standing for the great performance of the orchestra).

Here is the link (sorry, german language only):
http://www.staatstheater.karlsruhe.de/programm08_09/?id_titel=834

Here a link to a picture:
http://www.staatstheater.karlsruhe.de/programm08_09/index.php?id_titel=834&show=fotos&offset=5

[–] ultravio13 15 years ago

I saw it for the first time yesterday and i am still speechless,what a brilliant work of Art,I mean I had never even heard of this Movie till a few weeks ago,and I am just stunned. A masterpiece in every sense of the word!

[–] deeveed 15 years ago

Ive noticed many of you praise the film. So even that the film was "silent" still made it a "must-see"??? I personally haven't seen a silent film in a long while. I'm just not sure how I'd react with no dialogue.

[–] aliza_tvito 15 years ago

Just try it, and share you impressions!

Thank God, I'm an Atheist! - Luis Bunuel

[–] deeveed 15 years ago

good idea! I will..I'll take the plunge!..

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Angryheart 10 years ago

I agree everything you said. Love the close-ups and no music.

[–] Errington_92 10 years ago

The use of cinematography and mise en scene was pivotal in conveying La passion de Jeanne d'Arc as an emotive piece.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

[–] slimone (7996) 6 years ago

I just requested it from my local library. Looking forward to seeing it.

[–] GrowingFamily (271) 6 years ago

I hope you like it. I love this movie and I agree with all of the above praise. A topic in one of the above comments that I find interesting is that someone said the film was "lost". When and for how long? What is the story there?

[–] slimone (7996) 6 years ago

I just watched it today, and yes I agree with you. It is a masterpiece. Falconetti was superb and fascinating to say the least. Everything was in the eyes. All of the actors were great. It seemed like towards the end she got a lot of sympathy from her accusers but they still killed her.