The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc is a 1999 movie directed by Luc Besson.

The Messenger portrays the story of Joan of Arc in Besson's trademark manner. The story begins with young Jean witnessing the atrocities of the English against her family, following her through her visions, to her leadership in battle, then through doubt (with Dustin Hoffman playing a character who we are never sure is God or Satan), and finally to her trial and execution.

Although the company claimed that the film stays close to the historically accepted story of Joan of Arc, historians have strongly disagreed, citing numerous errors even on basic points as well as an attempt to fictionalize Joan's character beyond recognition.[1] (http://archive.joan-of-arc.org/joanofarc_besson_film.html) Film reviewers' verdicts on the dialogue ranged from criticism that it sounded like something out of Beverly Hills 90210 to comments that it was "merely corny".[2] (http://www.culturevulture.net/Movies/Messenger.htm) In interviews with Besson himself in publications such as "Le Monde", the director has said that the film was designed to show Joan, in essence, as a fraud who betrayed her religion by leading an army.[3] (http://archive.joan-of-arc.org/joanofarc_besson_film.html) Many French people were outraged by this version of their national heroine and patron saint.

Besson's eye for imagery, for shooting the scene, is very well displayed in this film. The viewer should note the transition from panoramic views to intense close ups as well as the use of space on the screen.

Cast

• Milla Jovovich - Joan of Arc
• Dustin Hoffman - The Conscience
• Faye Dunaway - Yolande of Aragon
• John Malkovich - Charles VII of France
• Tchéky Karyo - Jean de Dunois
• Vincent Cassel - Gilles de Rais
• Pascal Greggory - The Duke of Alençon
• Richard Ridings - La Hire
• Desmond Harrington - Aulon
• Timothy West - Pierre Cauchon
• Rab Affleck - Comrade
• Stéphane Algoud - Look Out
• Edwin Apps - Bishop
• David Bailie - English Judge
• David Barber - English Judge

External link

• [Historical analysis from the Joan of Arc Archive (http://archive.joan-of-arc.org/joanofarc_besson_film.html)]
• [Review by Steve Rhodes (http://zeal.com/exit.jhtml?cid=928043&wid=100362691&so=&xr=/website/profile.jhtml%3Fcid%3D928043%26wid%3D100362691)]
• [Review by director Ron Maxwell (http://zeal.com/exit.jhtml?cid=928043&wid=60209733&so=&xr=/website/profile.jhtml%3Fcid%3D928043%26wid%3D60209733)]

[Review by Beth Armitage (http://zeal.com/exit.jhtml?cid=928043&wid=100407469&so=&xr=/category/manage.jhtml%3Fcid%3D928043)] [Review by Arthur Lazere (http://zeal.com/exit.jhtml?cid=928043&wid=100363223&so=&xr=/website/profile.jhtml%3Fcid%3D928043%26wid%3D100363223)]

• The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151137/) at the Internet Movie Database