Silent Movie: The Passion of Joan Of Arc

Contributed by The Congregational Church of Patchogue.

The Passion of Joan of Arc is a silent, French, cinematic masterpiece by Carl Dreyer that was released in 1928. It shows the last few hours of St. Joan’s life and concludes with her public execution. The illiterate peasant girl claimed to have been sent by God to drive the invading Englishmen out of  France. Joan led an army in battle and was captured by British soldiers at nineteen years of age. As the film opens, we find Joan in shackles, trembling before a panel of judges and priests. The dialogue (English subtitles) is based on the trial records from 1431. St. Joan is now a national heroine of Franceand was canonized in 1920. The film is not intended for children due to the graphic nature of the climax.  

There is a recent increase of interest in silent movies that was created by the silent movie, the Artist, that swept the Oscars (5 of them!) this year. The organist for this performance, Joseph Roenbeck, is a young (30) musician who is currently trying to create an increased interest in the pipe organ for a new generation of listeners in an era when fewer and fewer people go to church, which is where the vast majority of pipe organs are located. Our pipe organ (over 2,000 pipes) is an instrument so powerful it can blow your hair back and create rumbling in your chest. Now that we are in the season of Lent, the beauty of this film, the wonderful music, and the themes of sacrifice and devotion will be attractive to Catholics, Protestants, history bufffs, and artists of all stripes and colors, whether religious or not. Your attendance will be a respectful sign of support for our outreach to the community and "inreach" to our souls.