"You cannot know the history of silent film unless you know the face of Renee Maria Falconetti. In a medium without words, where the filmmakers believed that the camera captured the essence of characters through their faces, to see Falconetti in Dreyer's "The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928) is to look into eyes that will never leave you.
Falconetti (as she is always called) made only this single movie. "It may be the finest performance ever recorded on film,” wrote Pauline Kael." Roger Ebert, Great Movies (****).
Number 1 on Arts and Faith's list of Top 100 spiritually significant films (2011).
Falconetti (as she is always called) made only this single movie. "It may be the finest performance ever recorded on film,” wrote Pauline Kael." Roger Ebert, Great Movies (****).
Number 1 on Arts and Faith's list of Top 100 spiritually significant films (2011).
