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The Trial of Joan of Arc
The Trial of Joan of Arc
8.1
/10
2,516 Ratings

THE TRIAL OF JOAN OF ARC

Procès de Jeanne d'Arc

Directed by Robert Bresson
France, 1962
Drama, Biography, History

Synopsis

In 15th-century France, Joan of Arc, compelled by visions of God, leads the French charge against invading English forces. She is captured and put on trial for heresy. Throughout the proceedings, Joan remains resolute, even as the threat of a violent public execution becomes an imminent reality.

Synopsis

In 15th-century France, Joan of Arc, compelled by visions of God, leads the French charge against invading English forces. She is captured and put on trial for heresy. Throughout the proceedings, Joan remains resolute, even as the threat of a violent public execution becomes an imminent reality.

Our take

Eschewing the virtuosic agony of Carl Dreyer’s take on the trial of the Maid of Orléans, Robert Bresson approaches her ordeal with procedural clarity. Working from the official transcript, this minimalist masterpiece distils its enduring questions of faith and resilience to their purest essentials.