Friday, November 12, 1999

R

For strong graphic battles, a rape, some language

Drama, War

Milla Jovovich, Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, John Malkovich, Tch?ky Karyo, Vincent Cassel, Pascal Greggory, Richard Ridings, Desmond Harrington, Timothy West, Rab Affleck, Stephane Algoud, Edwin Apps, David Bailie, David Barber, Christian Barbier, T

Luc Besson, Andrew Birkin

Luc Besson

Joan of Arc, The Messenger (1999)

Mystic, maiden, martyr - whatever you choose to call her, it is difficult to dispute that Joan of Arc led a remarkably accomplished life for a peasant girl who never went to school ... and never saw her 20th birthday.

At 17, she delivered an extraordinary message to her Dauphin and, two months later, led her army to victory over the English at Orleans. At 18, she was captured and sold to her most hated enemies. At 19, she was declared a witch and burned at the stake. Twenty-five years later, she was pronounced innocent. In 1920, she was canonized a saint, cemented into icon status, assured to be a subject of passionate debate forever.