Joan of Arc (miniseries)

Infobox Film
name = Joan of Arc


image_size =
caption = DVD cover for the film
director = Christian Duguay
producer = Peter Bray
writer = Michael Alexander Miller
Ronald Parker
narrator =
starring = Leelee Sobieski
Peter O'Toole
Jacqueline Bisset
music = Asher Ettinger
Charlotte Church
(special vocals)
cinematography = Pierre Gill
production designer = Michael Joy
editing = Ralph Brunjes
distributor = CBC (Canada)
CBS (USA)
released = 1999
runtime = 140 min. (2-part)
country = U.S.A.
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0178145

"Joan of Arc" is a 1999 two-part television miniseries about the 15th century Catholic Saint of the same name. The film stars Leelee Sobieski as Saint Joan. A joint production of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Alliance Atlantis Communications, the film was shown internationally in 1999.

It tells the story of Joan of Arc from her birth in 1412 to her death in 1431.

Plot

Joan is the daughter of Jacques and Isabelle d'Arc and the youngest of four children. At first, her father doesn't want her but Isabelle pleaded for her daughter and he spared Joan's life.

The audience sees her then as a 10 year old girl with long blonde hair playing with her blind childhood friend. She later has her first vision of the Holy Katarina, one of the three saints which visit Joan until her death.

Seven years after this event, she confesses to the pastor that the Holy Katarina had spoken to her and had told her that 'her destiny lies elsewhere.' She gets into a hay wagon and is arrives at Vaucoleur, is taken to speak to Sir Robert, who at first turns her away, and helps the inhabitants to escape capitulation. She is then sent to the Dauphin to Chinon with Jean DeMetz (Who doesn't seem to believe in her voices) and others.

Arriving at Chinon, she is introduced to the Dauphin. At first, he is suspecious but after testing her he believes her. Jean DeMetz (Who now has grown to admire her) agrees to stay by her side and they and LaHire prepare to attack.

They win the battle and Charles is crowned King of France. Joan is then reunited with her brother, Pierre, who joins the army and 'fights beside' her. Joan insists of attacking Paris but is now drowned in her pride. They lose the fight this time.

Joan is allowed to visit her family in Domremy. Her father speaks of her pride with the words: "You are making yourself into an idol." She prays for forgivness for her sin and Saint Katherine returns to her and says that she would be betrayed by King Charles. She is also forgiven by her father just as she is about to leave home for good. He finally accepts her as his daughter.

She returns to court and tells her close friend Mother Babette of what Saint Katherine told her. Joan is then honoured by the king. She confronts him and makes it rather obvious that she knows of his betrayel. He insists that she 'doesn't have to do this.' She reminds him of God's plan, bows, and walks away. She is next seen talking to Jean DeMetz (whose admiration of her has now grown into love.) Joan tells him that he 'must stand behind Charles' and not risk his life to save her. He never promises not to, which is just as well because he didn't keep it.

She is captured, and taken in by Madame de Beaurevoir who cares for her like a daughter. She dies and Joan is taken by the English. They put her on trial. She is asked either to sign her voices as from the devil and go to life imprisonment and wear a woman's dress, or burn on the stake. She signs. Brother Jean le Maistre gives her male clothing to a guard and tells him to 'take them to her, lay them beside her, tempt her.' Joan is, presumably, violated or raped by the guard.

Jean DeMetz comes to visit her and tells her that they are coming to save her the following night and tells her to be ready for them. Joan decides not to 'kill everything she believes in' and chooses to burn. Jean DeMetz and LaHire hear of this and LaHire goes to get the soldiers while Jean DeMetz stays to 'give her hope.' When Joan is tied to the stake, she asks for a crucifix. The man tells her to 'be quiet' and so she shouts out to the crowd "May I see a crucifix level with my eyes?" Jean DeMetz hears her and snatches a cross from the Bishop, holding it up in front of her. The fire is lit. Joan screams to God, and Jean DeMetz cries often. LaHire sees the smoke from the fire and looks like he is going to cry, because he is only just too late. Joan is almost dead and looks up to the sky. She sees Saint Katherine, and Mother Babette shares in the vision and smiles. Joan repeatedly thanks God.

We then see Jean DeMetz taking Joan's banner back to her parents. Not a word comes from him, his face says it all. He throws the banner in the ground and turns and leaves on his horse. Isabelle sits crying and Jacques comforts her. The film ends with a shot of Joan's banner and the words 'Joan was cannonised 500 years later. It was reported that her heart never burned.'

Awards

The film received four Golden Globe Award nominations. Peter O'Toole won the Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.

Cast

*Leelee Sobieski as Joan d'Arc
*Jacqueline Bisset as Isabelle d'Arc
*Powers Boothe as Jacques d'Arc
*Neil Patrick Harris as King Charles VII of France
*Maury Chaykin as Sir Robert de Baudricourt
*Olympia Dukakis as Mother Babette
*Jonathan Hyde as John Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford
*Robert Loggia as Father Monet
*Shirley MacLaine as Madame de Beaurevoir
*Peter O'Toole as Bishop Pierre Cauchon
*Maximilian Schell as Brother Jean le Maistre
*Peter Strauss as La Hire
*Chad Willett as Jean de Metz
*Ron White as Jean de Dunois
*Jaimz Woolvett as Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
*Ted Atherton as Jean d'Estivet
*Chandra Engstrom as Young Joan

External links

*imdb title|id=0178145|title=Joan of Arc