You are here:

The Passion of Joan of Arc

Name: The Passion of Joan of Arc
Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer
Released: 1928
Duration: 81 min

Representation Score

6.1/10

Good

1928

Director

Carl Theodor Dreyer

Runtime

81 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Dreyer’s masterpiece is a profound exploration of individual autonomy versus institutional oppression. By focusing on a woman’s resistance to a patriarchal judicial system, it achieves a high level of women's ability to drive the story. The film’s strength lies in its critique of centralized authority. It portrays religious and legal institutions as coercive forces, emphasizing the protagonist's spiritual truth over systemic dogma. While the film lacks modern demographic diversity and LGBTQ+ representation, its narrative structure remains progressive. It uses the historical setting to explore universal themes of psychological torment and moral conviction.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Passion of Joan of Arc have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. It focuses on the spiritual and legal struggles of the protagonist set in a 15th-century context.

How does The Passion of Joan of Arc portray gender?

Excellent

The story centers around a female protagonist who actively resists a male-dominated hierarchy. She drives the ethical conflict rather than being a passive participant.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Passion of Joan of Arc?

Limited

Casting reflects the historical context of 15th-century France. It avoids modern multi-layered blending and stays true to the historical setting without whitewashing.

How does The Passion of Joan of Arc represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film criticizes the Church as an oppressive, legalistic institution. It emphasizes individual subjective morality over the dogmatic, institutional truths imposed by the state and religion.

Does The Passion of Joan of Arc include disability representation?

Fair

The film does not focus on specific disabilities. However, it highlights the protagonist's psychological vulnerability and the sensory overload she experiences during her interrogation.

Present on Screen

Strong centering of female empowerment against a patriarchal and male-dominated religious hierarchy.
Sophisticated critique of institutional power and the corruption of centralized authority.
Effective use of cinematic techniques to convey psychological vulnerability and sensory trauma.

Limited or Absent

Complete absence of LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender narratives.
Lack of intentional multi-layered or ethnic diversity among the cast.
Does not feature representation for specific disabilities driven by individual ability to act.

Official Synopsis

A classic of the silent age, this film tells the story of the doomed but ultimately canonized 15th-century teenage warrior. On trial for claiming she'd spoken to God, Jeanne d'Arc is subjected to inhumane treatment and scare tactics at the hands of church court officials. Initially bullied into changing her story, Jeanne eventually opts for what she sees as the truth. Her punishment, a famously brutal execution, earns her perpetual martyrdom.

How are these scores produced? →