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The Passion of Joan of Arc

Play trailer Poster for The Passion of Joan of Arc 1928 1h 21m History Drama Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 63 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Spiritual rapture and institutional hypocrisy come to stark, vivid life in one of the most transcendent masterpieces of the silent era. Chronicling the trial of Joan of Arc in the hours leading up to her execution, Carl Theodor Dreyer depicts her torment with startling immediacy. Anchoring Dreyer's audacious formal experimentation is a legendary performance by Renée Falconetti, whose haunted face channels both the agony and the ecstasy of martyrdom.
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The Passion of Joan of Arc

The Passion of Joan of Arc

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Critics Consensus

The Passion of Joan of Arc is must-see cinema for Renée Maria Falconetti's incredible performance alone -- and an all-time classic for innumerable other reasons.

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Critics Reviews

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Times (UK) Staff The Times (UK) 07/09/2020
The composition of the pictures is extremely beautiful, and the deliberation of the movement allows time for their beauty, and the poignancy of Mlle. Falconetti's acting, to produce a cumulative effect. Go to Full Review Jaime N. Christley Village Voice 11/22/2017
This is neither a hopeful nor a hopeless film, but one of feeling so colossal and resplendent, it can't be constrained by prison or consumed by fire. Go to Full Review Thomas H Green Daily Telegraph (UK) 02/27/2013
4/5
In the hands of the great Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer it becomes a potent saga of battered faith, vicious bullying and personal torment. Go to Full Review Sebastian Zavala Kahn Me gusta el cine 02/21/2025
5/5
With an enigmatic protagonist, a story based on cruel real events and an innovative staging, Dreyer's film is considered one of the greatest classics in the history of cinema. [Full review in Spanish]. Go to Full Review Ian Thomas Malone ianthomasmalone.com 09/09/2024
Dreyer delivers a timeless treatise on the agony of the soul that bristles against the confines of its structure, a film so carefully constructed yet completely raw in its delivery. Go to Full Review Vernon Young Accent: A Quarterly of New Literature 01/18/2024
The Passion of Joan of Arc is one film among probably less than a dozen of which it can be said that it adds deeply to the sum of one’s experience. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bowman T @RT75301763 6d Some watch in silence. Some with piano. For me, the visuals were accompanied by the Voices of Light score. Creative camerawork, great acting, and more make this as close to mandatory viewing as you can get for the silent era. In terms of its contemporaries, it doesn't make Metropolis suddenly less-compelling, nor does it feel like a slightly better or worse Nosferatu. It's a different beast entirely. Watch it. Beware of criticism that comes in the form of incoherence or film illiteracy. See more Rosario C. @rosario508 May 15 Exceptionally powerful and moving in terms of it’s visuals as well as it’s narrative See more Leprechaun K @LeprechaunKing Mar 30 Almost 100 years later, the visuals are impressive for its time. It serves more of a documentary for its historical value. It is not particularly entertaining. The constant close-up of the the Joan's monotone expression is excessive. See more Deborah W. @debw1977 Jan 17 Beautiful film. Falconetti was truly gifted. See more revolver.0 8 @Revolver08 Dec 10 beautifully light and shoot portraits See more Stephen C @bob25009 06/08/2025 Failed the silent movie test in just 1 hour and 17 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
The Passion of Joan of Arc

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Cast & Crew

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Carl Theodor Dreyer

Director

Maria Falconetti

Jeanne d'Arc

Eugene Silvain

Évêque Pierre Cauchon (as Eugène Silvain)

André Berley

Jean d'Estivet

Maurice Schultz

Nicolas Loyseleur

Antonin Artaud

Jean Massieu

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The Passion of Joan of Arc

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Spiritual rapture and institutional hypocrisy come to stark, vivid life in one of the most transcendent masterpieces of the silent era. Chronicling the trial of Joan of Arc in the hours leading up to her execution, Carl Theodor Dreyer depicts her torment with startling immediacy. Anchoring Dreyer's audacious formal experimentation is a legendary performance by Renée Falconetti, whose haunted face channels both the agony and the ecstasy of martyrdom.
Director
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Screenwriter
Joseph Delteil
Distributor
Criterion Collection, Video Yesteryear, Janus Films, LS Video
Production Co
Société générale des films
Genre
History, Drama, Biography
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 21, 1928, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 23, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.4K
Runtime
1h 21m
Aspect Ratio
35mm