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book review

In truth, I am sent from God - Joan of Arc

I read this as a tie-in to Castor's BBC documentary of Joan of Arc which I found illuminating. It may sound superficial at first glance but Castor is right to say that no other figure from the history of the Middle Ages has generated so many pop songs. Think about it a bit and you realise just what a grip she has held on generation upon generation. Indeed the poets, the writers, the film directors and the historians have used her as the Muse until the person has become but a light vessel for all of them to channel their views.

The real Joan of Arc is so much more fascinating than that. How did a 17 year old peasant girl become the Maid of Orleans? What did the Voices say? How did she know that the sword would be found there? Did she say those words in her last meeting with Pierre Cauchon? Castor tries to answer these questions and others.

It is fascinating that so much survives from her trial because it was all recorded. Castor uses it skillfully to bring the story alive.

For the docu they got the music horribly wrong. They should have used the classic OMD track with a choral choir. I've heard it before and it evokes Joan of Arc in a way no other piece of music can come close to,

And never, never, use the face of another actress for Joan of Arc when you have Renée Jeanne Falconetti for time ever after. Dreyer's iconic and classic close ups in Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) should always be the only reference point for her face in your mind's eye.

Using another actress? Now that's almost an act of heresy.

The cover and its typography are the weakest links of the book and are a little lazy. Sorry to hark back to the film but you only have to look at its Masters of Cinema release to see that a cover can be turned into art and give you a feeling for the Saint and just how mythical she was.

Inside though, it's page upon page of bedazzlement and wonder.

Books like this especially with TV-tie-ins are crucial to the continuing mythology and popularity of Joan of Arc. If done well they become living, breathing reference points for a generation.

joan of arc trivia

As an aside, do you know the first cinema actress to play the French saint? It was Jehanne d'Arcy, the future wife and muse of the legendary cinematic pioneer, Georges Melies. She did so in the 1900 film Joan of Arc.

28 years later came the greatest portrayal, the aforementioned Renée Jeanne Falconetti in the once seen never forgotten Passion of Joan of Arc. Hard to believe these days, when its influence pervades so many aspects of the cinema of today, that it was lost for many years until its rediscovery in 1981.

Ingrid Bergman played her twice and twice she was disappointing which is strange when you consider what a fine and sensitive actress she was and had played her on the stage.

The Messenger (1999) is the most disappointing film of all the Joan of Arcs. Milla Jovovich gives the most disappointing performance of any of the Joans.

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Book Available Elsewhere: amazon.co.uk (direct link)