The Passion of Joan of Arc Film Still

The Passion of Joan of Arc

Carl Th. Dreyer

France

1928

110 minutes

Black and White

1.33:1

62

Synopsis

With its stunning camerawork and striking compositions, Carl Th. Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc convinced the world that movies could be art. Renée Falconetti gives one of the greatest performances ever recorded on film, as the young maiden who died for God and France. Long thought to have been lost to fire, the original version was miraculously found in perfect condition in 1981—in a Norwegian mental institution. Criterion is proud to present this milestone of silent cinema in a new special edition featuring composer Richard Einhorn’s Voices of Light, an original opera/oratorio inspired by the film.

Cast

JeanneRenée Falconetti
Pierre CauchonEugène Silvain
Jean d’EstivetAndré Berley
Nicolas LoyseleurMaurice Schutz
Jean MassieuAntonin Artaud
Jean LemaîtreGilbert Dalleu
Nicolas de HouppevilleJean d’Yd
Jean BeaupèreLouis Ravet

Credits

DirectorCarl Th. Dreyer
CinematographyRudolf Maté
ScreenplayCarl Th. Dreyer
In collaboration withJoseph Delteil
Historical consultantPierre Champion
Art directionHermann Warm
Production DesignJean Hugo
CostumesValentine Hugo

Disc Features

  • Gorgeous new transfer of the original version, with digital restoration
  • Richard Einhorn’s Voices of Light: A choral and orchestral work performed by vocal group Anonymous 4 soloist Susan Narucki and the Radio Netherlands Philharmonic and Choir
  • Audio essay by Casper Tybjerg, a Dreyer scholar from the University of Copenhagen
  • An extensive production design archive
  • A history of Passion’s many versions, with clips
  • Audio interview excerpts with the star’s daughter, Hélène Falconetti
  • An essay by Richard Einhorn on Joan of Arc and Voices of Light, plus a video essay on the music’s production
  • Voices of Light libretto booklet, including the medieval texts used in Einhorn’s composition

From the Current

Passion Play

Mar 8, 2010

Forty-seven years after Anna Karina communed with The Passion of Joan of Arc’s Maria Falconetti in Vivre sa vie, Carl Theodor Dreyer’s Saint Joan continues to inspire artists. According . . .

Realized Mysticism in The Passion of Joan of Arc

by Carl Theodor Dreyer Nov 8, 1999

The virgin of Orleans and those matters that surrounded her death began to interest me when the shepherd girl’s canonization in 1920* once again drew the attention of the public-at-large to the events and actions involving her—and not only in France. In addition to Bernard Shaw’s ironical play . . .

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Available Editions

The Passion of Joan of Arc Criterion DVD Add to Cart

DVD

1 Disc

SRP: $39.95

Criterion Store price

$31.96