Farouk Gulsara
The Heart of France
The Heart of France
The Passion of Joan of Arc (La Passion de Jeanne D’Arc; 1928)
This 1985 restored French silent movie is the result of the restoration of lost rolls and its miraculous re-appearances. This 1928 film that courted controversy even before its release way back then has a surprisingly elaborate set-up and effects. Most of the expressions rely on facial expressions as there no musical score in the background. The story is a short one depicting the last hours of the heart of France, Joan of Arc.
Even though we studied about Joan of Arc in our Standard 5 history lessons, I was shocked that the present 17-year-olds in the national schools are clueless about this lady who has been conferred sainthood!
The film starts with the interrogation of Joan by the Jesuit priests and judges. Her interrogators ask about her allegation that she is God-sent. She is further asked about her dreams when St Michael appeared. They also enquire about her dressing, like that of a man!
Her reply to them was that God-sent her with the mission to save France from England.
The priests then take out a letter apparently written by King Charles of England to her about their attack. The priests accuse her of being Satan’s creature, and she is sent to the torture chamber demanding her to sign a declaration she had been misled and is wrong. The sight of the priests-sanctioned torture tools is too overwhelming that she faints.
Joan is nursed back to health, and she is asked the same in full view of the public.
A big argument ensues trying to claim who is a better Christian than the other. After much persuasion and cajoling, Joan endorses the document. She is shaved bald and sent to jail for rehabilitation. In prison, however, she retracts her statement.
She felt guilty denying her God for fear of the stake (punishment by burning). She is sent to be burnt alive in the centre of town.
During the stake, Joan kept chanting the name of Jesus. The public then realised that they have burnt a saint. A riot erupts. Fin…
Real lesson from reel:
It is interesting that in the evolution of Man, we have gone through a lot of nonsensical teachings from our religious leaders. We, the unenlightened and the not-so-wise (in the theological sense), have taken it in wholesome without questioning them as if the leaders had direct communications with the Gods via specific portals. Did you know that there was a time it was sacrilege to use pain killers? "If one cannot appreciate a little bit of pain, how can one understand the pain of Jesus dying on the cross to wash the sins of all man?" they said!
Interestingly, Joan of Arc, the Maiden of Orleans was executed for cross-dressing.