Sidewalk Cafe screens Carl Dreyer’s La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc next Tuesday.
La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc (The Passion of Joan of Arc) is a 1928 film, which details the last hours of the life of Joan of Arc and takes place after she was captured by the English. It depicts her trial, imprisonment, torture, and execution much as a passion play would.
Carl Dreyer made this film from the historical account and it has been described as one of the greatest performances in film.
Written on her confession, Joan is referred to as Jehanne appelée La Pucelle, or “Joan, called The Virgin”.
What especially stood out at the time when Passion was made was the film’s camera-work and emphasis on the actors’ facial features. Dreyer shot a great deal of the film in close-up and did not allow his actors to wear makeup, the better to tell the story through their expressions — this choice was made possible through use of the recently developed panchromatic film. This film is loaned by Dr Christopher Carrico. As usual admission is free and the film starts at 7 pm.
