Absolutely Astonishing Film. Could Watch This Forever!
Without studying the historical significance of this film, you could never really appreciate in it's entirety what would unfold in this film. The background to the so called "100 Years' War" is to be found starting in 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy, led an invasion of England. He defeated the English King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings, & had himself crowned King of England. As Duke of Normandy, he remained a vassal of the French King, and was required to swear loyalty to for his lands in France; for a King to swear Loyalty to another King was considered humiliating.
The Norman Kings of England generally attempted to avoid service. On the French side, the Capetian monarchs resented a neighboring king holding lands within their own realm, & sought to neutralize the threat England now posed to France.
Regardless of how big a fan you are of Milla Jovovich, this film showcases her spirit & dedication to her pursuits as an actor. Even though this film is now over a decade old, it is still just as memorable & profound as ever. Joan of Arc was known to have been a virgin, yet she was accused by the English for being a heretic/witch. She claimed to carry a flag or sword into battle, yet told that she preferred her flag over her sword 40 times more.
As told by her followers, Joan asserted that she had visions from God that told her to recover her homeland from English domination late in the War. The uncrowned King Charles VII sent her to the siege at Orléans as part of a relief mission. She gained prominence when she overcame the dismissive attitude of veteran commanders & lifted the siege in only 9 days. Several more swift victories led to Charles VII's coronation at Reims & settled the disputed succession to the throne. Joan was only 19 when she was burned at the stake.
Many people seem to be a bit disturbed over Besson's interpretation of Jesus in the visions. Obviously, He is supposed to have a slightly malicious look about him. He doesn't have a kind face as we've seen in most other depictions. Besson's Jesus has dark circles. Jesus seems jerky, never smiles, has a spooky growl of a voice (Dustin Hoffman in 1 scene), & even has a lazy eye. This is definitely a nightmarish depiction. Besson intentionally wanted us to be dismayed by this. Of course, this should've creeped us out. One of the themes of the film is that Joan's visions might've been paranoid delusions exacerbated by the trauma of her childhood. The scenes of Jesus definitely come across that way. Anyone so totally impressionable might have their Jesus insulted or their Christianity shaken over this, but I doubt it. Besson wanted to make a mental note within us that he portray this euphemistically as the idea that divine visions are not always "divine".
The film was very involved at times & strayed off course a bit from truth noticeably on the revenge of her sister's death & violent rape that Joan witnesses at a younger age, however Joan's real sister died in childbirth when Joan was already old enough to move on to Chinon.
Jovovich was extra pristene, which I think was totally positive, being that she was born from Ukraine.
European releases stayed safe from insult, which omits, among other items, the scene where Joan's virginity is tested before the court.
It was told that Kathryn Bigelow refused to direct when Besson insisted that Jovovich, his wife, played the leading role.
After 500 years, Joan was Canonized as a Martyr Saint by the Catholic Church.Read full review
