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The Trial of Joan of Arc

Play trailer Poster for The Trial of Joan of Arc Released Feb 11, 1965 1h 5m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
In 15th-century France, teen peasant Joan of Arc (Florence Carrez), who claims to be able to communicate directly with God, is put on trial on charges of heresy against the church. Throughout the proceedings, Bishop Cauchon (Jean-Claude Fourneau) relentlessly pursues his version of the truth, and presses the girl to admit that she's lied about receiving messages from a higher power. But Joan remains resolute, even as the threat of a violent public execution slowly becomes an imminent reality.

Critics Reviews

View All (14) Critics Reviews
Kevin Maher Times (UK) Collated by Bresson from three contemporary court transcripts, the tense exchanges between Joan and her inquisitors provide a fascinating insight into the true nature of her primal crimes. Rated: 4/5 Aug 12, 2022 Full Review TIME Magazine Bresson's treatment of the Trial of Joan is characteristically ascetic; but it is also quintessential history, unique and timeless, graced with a master's touch. Mar 5, 2013 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Using non-actors, there are no false dramatics. This unveils another side of the oft-filmed tale, and the state and church politics of that century. Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Sean Axmaker Parallax View As much as I love Bresson's works, I'm rarely caught up in the sweep of his drama. The drama comes for me only at the conclusion - and then lingers for days after. May 4, 2012 Full Review Dan Callahan House Next Door The Trial of Joan of Arc (1962) might be my favorite Robert Bresson film, and Florence Delay, who plays Joan and who went on to become a respected novelist in France, my favorite Bresson lead. Jan 9, 2012 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Suspended like the protagonist between sanctity and pride, undaunted yet utterly naked Mar 28, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (8) audience reviews
John A Not a bad short film but Robert Bresson's cinematic vision of Joan's final moments struggles to interest (especially in comparison to Dreyer's iconic version from decades before). Florence Delay is a great choice for the titular role. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/31/23 Full Review chris k A portrait so powerful that one cannot simply ignore or forget. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Liam D Robert Bresson‘s take on the final days of Joan of Arc is powerful and shocking Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/09/20 Full Review Audience Member Did the child Joan of Arc offer her eternal soul to God as a sacrifice, to be damned forever, to free the multitude of souls damned to hell which Jesus Christ could not save? Or is this blasphemy? Find out in: "JEANNETTE - The Childhood of Joan of Arc" (ages 8-16) Film/Musical (2017). French language, English subtitles. my Alternate Title: "The Death, Resurrection, and Lying Departure of the Young Joan of Arc" (1420-1428). As much Jewish as it is Christian. As much about the boy David as it is the girl Joan. As much about Israel as it is France. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member I love french arthouse movies, I love historical movies and I love musicals. But this movie is the worst movid I've seen for a long time. I would go as far and say it is the worst movie I have ever seen. Monsieur Dumont just stole 2 hours of my life which I will never get back. I am not disappointed, I am angry - the movie is so incredibly bad. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member This is by far the worst movie I've ever seen in my entire life. It was long. It was slow. It was torture. The main character kept promising they were really finally leaving but the sick joke was that the film just kept going. It was like a parody of what a high school level drama student would write if they were trying to be artsy. It had a reoccurring heavy metal theme with some of the worst choreography I have ever seen. Then randomly an uncle became a reoccurring character whose music genre of choice was rap and his choreography was not head banging but rather some modern nightmare remix of 'the robot.' By far some of the worst two hours of my life. Oh, and for some reason in the middle of this movie one of the characters walks like the exorcist?? This movie was truly a nightmare. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Trial of Joan of Arc

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The Trial of Joan of Arc

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 15th-century France, teen peasant Joan of Arc (Florence Carrez), who claims to be able to communicate directly with God, is put on trial on charges of heresy against the church. Throughout the proceedings, Bishop Cauchon (Jean-Claude Fourneau) relentlessly pursues his version of the truth, and presses the girl to admit that she's lied about receiving messages from a higher power. But Joan remains resolute, even as the threat of a violent public execution slowly becomes an imminent reality.
Director
Robert Bresson
Producer
Agnès Delahaie
Screenwriter
Robert Bresson
Distributor
Pathé Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 11, 1965, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 26, 2018
Runtime
1h 5m