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[Film club] My problems with Procès de Jeanne d'Arc

posted 16 years ago by thao
4 replies | jump to latest

I have now seen this film twice and sadly I just don't get the greatness. Yes it does have some very nice shots but that's about it. I think Bresson is best when he keeps the dialog to minimal, and lets the shots and sounds do the "talking". There is way to much dialog in this film for it to work with his cardboard acting technique. I usually love the soundtrack in Bresson's films but I thought it was quite bad in this one, especially the shouting from the "crowd", which actually sounded like bad radioplay, with a crowd of 3.

Maybe I have seen Dreyer's film too often to appreciate this remake.

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[–] Chrislowski 16 years ago

I really enjoyed this film, although I have yet to see Dreyer's version. I think there is a lot of dialogue in the film and if it had been any longer I agree that the style of acting would have seemed far too sparse and emotionless but at the short run length of the film I think it worked fine.

Obviously, being familiar with the Joan of Arc story is essential in seeing this film, and I don't think it could have worked with less dialogue. After all, Bresson is trying to show us what a mockery Joan's trial really was which would have been difficult with less dialogue.

The soundtrack is nowhere near as good as some other Bresson films (A Man Escaped for instance) but I think it worked overall and I felt incredibly moved during the final scenes. I thought Florence Delay did a great job.

I read she has since became a good writer. I'd love to read some of her work if only it was translated into English :(

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[–] mac_alain 16 years ago

I think there is a lot of dialogue in the film and if it had been any longer I agree that the style of acting would have seemed far too sparse and emotionless but at the short run length of the film I think it worked fine.

I am in agreement with you there.

A fine film and an *excellent* performance by Florence Delay: 9/10.

[–] ilpohirvonen 12 years ago

Although I love Dreyer's film and consider it a timeless masterpiece, I find it silly to call every film about Joan of Arc a remake of it. Georges Hatot made the first film about Joan of Arc in 1898. In film, she seems to be a character like Jesus, filmed constantly over and over again. I think no one has brought such unique personality to the story as Bresson did. Of course, I have no scientific claims to back up my argument. All I can say is what I felt during the film. I think Bresson is more interested in the existentialist aspects of the story than Dreyer and he does leave it more ambiguous and open for interpretation. However, I don't want this to be an insult against Dreyer. For, in the end, I consider Dreyer's version a better film but find the comparison quite futile and unfruitful.

[–] maz89 11 years ago

I think Bresson is best when he keeps the dialog to minimal, and lets the shots and sounds do the "talking". There is way to much dialog in this film for it to work with his cardboard acting technique.

I don't think I could disagree too much there.

I don't get the greatness either. It wasn't by any means bad, though. I certainly did find something appealing and worthwhile about Bresson's stamp on the depiction of Joan of Arc's trial - the muted emotions, the focus on the almost rapid-fire exchange rather than the melodrama, even Florence's stoic performance as Joan who seemed to hold her own against her cutthroat opponents - but there was nonetheless a "been-there-done-that" vibe to the proceedings. Despite the different approach and feel to Bresson's Joan, Dreyer's film seemed to capture the essence the story with much fewer words.

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