The Passion of Joan of Arc was directed by Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer and was released in 1928. It stars Renée Jeanne Falconetti as Joan of Arc and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of the silent era.
The film's intense close-ups on Falconetti's face, capturing every nuance of emotion, are particularly notable and have been praised as a masterful example of the power of silent cinema.
The movie depicts Joan's trial and execution with stark brutality, highlighting the injustice and cruelty of her treatment by the church court officials. The film's powerful and emotional climax shows Joan being burned at the stake, implying that the fire is a metaphorical representation of her elevated martyrdom and spiritual redemption.
The Passion of Joan of Arc was initially condemned by the Catholic Church, but has since been recognized as a masterpiece of cinema that captures the spirit of the historical figure it portrays.