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Maria Falconetti as Joan of Arc
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The Passion of Joan of ArcChan
Marshall of Catpower is currently touring
the US with a musical show centred around the
classic black and white silent movie 'The
Passion of Joan of Arc'. Chan plays and sings
her own songs to provide a score for the movie
'The Passion of Joan of Arc' was filmed in
France in 1929 and was directed by Carl
Dreyer. The movie focusses on the trial of the
legendary Joan of Arc who led a revolt against
the English. After being captured by French
who had stayed loyal to the English, Joan is
accused of blasphemy and witchcraft in a trial
of which the outcome is fixed from the start.
Inspite of this Joan, played by Maria Falconetti in the movie, complete devotion to her
faith manages to strike fear in the hearts of her judges. This is brought across in an
eerie way by Dreyer by means of excessive use of close-ups. Falconetti performance is
deeply impressive as Joan endures the injustices done to her without showing any sign
of resentment towards her captors. Joan seems willing to accept her fate even if it
means being burnt as a witch.
Persecution as a response to devotion is a prevailing element in both this movie and
the music of Cat Power. Perhaps Joan of Arc was less troubled through the saintly strength
of her faith than the mindsets that Cat Power songs portray. But legends as the one about
Joan of Arc are there for us to inspire ourselves to obtain the unobtainable and so give
us strength to continue to struggle. Cat Power's music seems more reflective of the struggle
itself, and manages to bring comfort by sharing the burden. Together this should make an
very reactive combination. Complementary, but by no means without irony.
