ramansour Review of Joan the Maid 1: The Battles

Joan the Maid 1: The Battles (1994)

Most historically accurate Joan of Arc movie to date

[24 December 1999]

In the November 15th 1999 issue of "The New Yorker," Joan Acocella called Rivette's "Joan the Maid Parts 1 and 2" "the best Joan of Arc movie ever made." I couldn't agree with her more. It's also the most historically accurate to date. The scenes and dialogue are taken practically word for word from primary source accounts made by her contemporaries. Unlike Hollywood's big-budget Joan of Arc "epics," Rivette's film is modestly low-budget, but its simplicity makes it all the more charming. It focuses on the character of this extraordinary 15th century woman rather than the big battle spectacles. As "Sight and Sound" magazine put it, "Rivette takes us not onto the stage of history but backstage -- to its green room." I found Sandrine Bonnaire's performance very moving. Most film portrayals of Joan of Arc fail what I call the essential "leadership test." (Would anyone follow Milla Jovovich's Joan of Arc into battle? We'd sooner put her in a padded cell.) But Sandrine Bonnaire portrays Joan as an intelligent, confident young woman that anyone would follow. She charms the audience as much as the real Joan charmed her countrymen.