DVD/150: LA PASSION DE JEANNE D'ARC (Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1928)

One of silent cinema's true masterpieces, Dreyer dispenses with the events of Joan's life to focus on her heresy trial in 1431 by the clergy, basing his script on the trial transcripts.

Dreyer distills the trial's four months to a single day, all elements of the film pared down to focus on the extraordinary performance of Maria Falconetti, previously known as a light comedy stage actress.

Dreyer's extensive use of extreme close-ups rivets the viewer to Falconetti and the actors playing the conniving judges.  Rudolph Maté's cinematography shoots them without make-up, capturing every blemish and wart.  But Falconetti's pure face allows every fleeting emotion to shine through her glassy, obsessed gaze.

 

Critically acclaimed but financially unsuccessful, for many years PASSION was only viewable in a truncated version which Dreyer disliked - ironically the original having burnt in a fire in 1928 - until a complete print was discovered in 1981.

Shelf or charity shop?  I can see myself wanting to re-visit the haunting intensity of Falconetti's performance so she can live in the limbo of my plastic DVD box...