28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Warrior and Saint, Aug 19 2006
By Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Joan of Arc: Child of War, Soldier of God (DVD)
Based on the actual testimony of Jeanne d'Arc, this marvelous film is part re-enactment and part documentary, combining quality acting and cinematography, and interviews with people like Siobhan Nash-Marshall, author of "Joan of Arc: A Spiritual Biography," and Kelly DeVries, author of "Joan of Arc: A military Leader." It also shows paintings from the era, and the resemblance of the actors to some of the artwork, especially Michal Havelka, who plays the Dauphin Charles, is remarkable. Lucie Vondrackova's portrayal of Joan is moving and believable, and Tomas Karger is excellent as Alencon. Anna Paquin does the voice over as Joan, and Alfred Molina pulls the story together with his narration.
Producer/director Pamela Mason Wagner has brought the many dimensions of this account into a cohesive one-hour docudrama, which was presented by Faith and Values Media for the Hallmark Channel, and filmed in France and the Czech Republic. If you know nothing about Joan of Arc, you will learn a lot, and if you are familiar with the life of this incredible saint, whose strength was her submission to God's will, you will appreciate how well her story has been told.
Joan was only 13 when she started to hear voices guide her, and 17 when she became a warrior for France. This illiterate teenager led an army, stood her ground against Bishop Cauchon's difficult questions for weeks, and changed history. In a closing statement, the narrator states "Joan's story is an inspiration to anyone who believes in following your Voice, even if it consumes you."
The DVD Special Features include a biography, timeline, and "Important People and Events," but you need a PC capable of playing DVD-ROM to access them, which I do not have, so cannot comment on them.
Also highly recommended for further viewing is Carl Dreyer's silent masterpiece "The Passion of Joan of Arc."
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Joan of Arc: Peasant Girl, Child of War, Soldier of God, Jun 13 2006
By Green Hornet "Green Hornet" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Joan of Arc: Child of War, Soldier of God (DVD)
I'm a major fan of Joan of Arc or as she was once called Jeanne d' Arc. Jeanne was a mere peasant girl who lived in War torn France; but at age 17, she rallied a demoralized nation and changed the course of history forever. There have been many excellent movies and plays about the life of Jeanne; but, in my opinion, this one is the best. It is based upon Jeanne's writing and also upon the historical records of the time. It doesn't take the liberties that many other presentations have in the past.
This presentation stars Lucie Vondrackova as Jeanne and she does a masterful job at capturing this historical heroine's quest to stop the English invaders, coronate the Dauphin, and save France from invaders; while helping the viewer to discover a fascinating, idealistic and innocent young woman. One of my favorite actors, Alfred Molina, provides the historical narration for this 56 minute presentation; while Anna Paquin gives provides Jeanne's voice.
Inspired by "her voices", young Jeanne struggles to achieve her own vision in a brutal and dangerous world. Many scholars offer their insights about this young woman's quest. I highly recommend this movie.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good overview of the life of Saint Joan of Arc, July 17 2007
By Ben D. Kennedy "Author of Maid of Heaven" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Joan of Arc: Child of War, Soldier of God (DVD)
This is a well-done documentary that gives a good overview of the life of Saint Joan of Arc. If you do not know much about the life of Saint Joan this is a good place to start and will teach you the highlights of her life. Even if you already know her story, you will still probably enjoy it as I did. I especially liked the French accents and the way they refer to her as she was called in her native tongue: Jehanne. They also did a good job in choosing an actress that fits the historical descriptions of Saint Joan. Most importantly, unlike so many modern books and films, this one does not try to explain her life apart from God and her supernatural Voices. There are some minor historical mistakes like what caused her capture (it was a drawbridge raised not gates closed), but overall a good docudrama that most will enjoy.