Cinema’s surprising devotion to Joan of Arc

By dedicating a film to her - "The Trial of Joan of Arc" (1962) - Robert Bresson showed the world a glimpse of the true face of the Maid of Orleans.

As the Church celebrates Joan of Arc on May 30, the patron saint of France and one of the heroines of the country’s history has been the subject of numerous films. Among the most famous is the classic “The Trial of Joan of Arc” by Robert Bresson, originally released in 1962.

The filmmaker’s wife, Mylène Bresson, has collected chronologically, over forty years, the interviews of the director who wanted to be a cinematographer first and foremost – as opposed to merely a success in the entertainment industry. Many journalists have sought out Robert Bresson’s words, for they were rare and therefore precious even in his time. He hated talking about nothing. His words are as precise as his film plans, his ideas as demanding as his screenplay dialogues.