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jeanne la pucelle - part 1: the battles quick review
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jeanne la pucelle - part 1: the battles dvd buy
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quick movie review

Jacques Rivette epic tale is told in two films, Les Batailles and Les Prisons.

What I like about this is that he doesn't make the mistake many have done before him when telling of the life of the Saint - namely, he doesn't rely on just pageanty. Lie Dreyer before him he knew it was in the way the story was told that would hold the viewer of not. This he achieves in abundance.

I would rank it just below Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) which is high enough acclaim when you think of Dreyer's masterpiece being one of the most important films of all time.

Bonnaire is one of the few actresses from her generation who I can think with the strength to play Joan of Arc and here she gives her best cinematic performance.

The Dvd packaging is classic Artificial Eye - the photos from the film are always incorporated into the primary AE colours and text. It does work as for generations now anyone with a passing interest in World Cinema would know an Artificial Eye Dvd or video from a 100 paces.