Dreyer's: The Passion Of Joan Of Arc

Dreyer’s, The Passion of Joan of Arc, left a lasting impact on silent film history. Renee Maria Falconetti was made for her portrayal of Joan of Arc. The movie is respected and admired by the film industry today. Recently, tragic event has sparked new interest in the movie. The New Yorker writer, Rebecca Mead, viewed Joan of Arc as a modern activist comparing her to Emma Gonzalez, Parkland shooting survivor and face of March for Our Lives movement. Both young teens endured tragedy but remained confident and assuming authority. Joan of Arc’s portrayal in silent film is being applied today and will effect activist’s future actions. Emma Gonzalez and Joan of Arc share many common characteristics despite the differences in their movement and society.

The director only used the trial transcripts rather than writing an original script. This gives the viewer a visual of the suffering Joan endured. One would think a silent movie would bring a whole set of challenges when trying to present themes in personalities. However, Dreyer manipulates this obstacle into an opportunity. Throughout the film, there were many intentional close-ups on Joan’s face. These clips provided the viewer with the same fear and anxiety Joan experienced during the trial. Another reason for the continuous close-ups is the expression of Joan’s purity. Renee Maria Falconetti, the actress, was casted for the role because her big round eyes and the story they told. In Kathryn Harrison’s Joan of Arc: A Life Transfigured, the importance of purity is described as, “If sexual transgression brought death, its inverse, the purity of abstinence, would restore life to a dying nation” (Harrison 19). Acknowledging Joan’s spiritual and physical purity is essential in retelling her trial. This is when the viewer relates Joan of Arc to previous models of sanctity presented by Virgin Mary and Saint Foye. All three of the young women have withstood harassment but remained devote and pure. Joan of Arc is seen praying to the Virgin Mary in the trial transcripts. Saint Foye and Joan of Arc are most similar in that they both became virgin martyrs as teenagers. The young

Their situations are different in that Joan of Arc lead France to victory hundreds of years ago and Emma Gonzalez is currently working towards change. Violence during Joan of Arc’s time is not the same as the violence Emma Gonzalez is fighting against. Joan of Arc saved France and Emma Gonzalez is working to save a generation. One thing Joan and Emma have in common is having their childhood innocence stolen from those who should be protecting them. During the trial, Joan was not trying to outwit bishops and the priests, she is innocent and believes God will reward her for this. Later, Isabelle Romée wrote, “After having taken away all means of defending her innocence… charging her falsely and untruthfully of many crimes” (Harrison 357). It was not realized Joan of Arc was wrongfully put to death until Pope Calixtus III worked to wipe away the charges. The bishops and priests failed to protect Joan of Arc innocence just as policy makers have failed Emma Gonzalez. Emma Gonzalez was a ‘normal’ high school student until February 14, 2018. Nikolas Cruz took that innocence from Emma Gonzalez when she witnessed seventeen of her classmates murdered. Now, she is fighting for a change in America so no other student has to lose their child innocence. Emma wants to be the change the elders failed to notice. Both young women have taken adult matters into