What is Joan's Devotion? (Shweta)

In the last few seconds of the movie, we see the sign 'Relapsed Heretic, Apostate, Idolater' burn away completely. 

In contrast to the rest of the movie, the last 30 seconds or so, depicts chaos in numerous ways. Movement is seen in the flames, the lashing, people screaming, and scrambling to bring themselves to safety. The flame dictates the ending scenes and we return to it repeatedly. We also return to the wooden peg with the nail hammered in, and this image stays steady. 

In the final image, this is brought in line with the cross. We see the signage burn away and this represents a burning away of the accusations put on Joan. Images of the cross are seen throughout the movie and has been comforting to Joan. Although Joan's suffering is presented in the flames, the cross perhaps shows that Joan might still be comforted in some way. 

Another aspect of the last 30-ish seconds of the movie is the close up faces of normal people. We see soldiers in helmets and mostly from a distance, but the pained faces of other people are large and cover the screen. All the other shots are seen at a distance and against a lot of smoke, but these shots are clearer. Similarly, in the scene where the bridge begins to close up, the smoke clears out for a moment. We see the women in the forefront kneeling and praying. 

Img 1

In contrast, shots of the soldiers are taken from the top and we see their helmets and them scrambling through the entrance. But we never see a congregation of soldiers in the way that we do in the above image. An upturning of the way in which the church dictates things is voiced in clear contrast to mob. The gushing of the flame appears parallel to the suffering of the mob. 


Img 2

In the above scene, the camera moves downwards tracing the flames. The vignette surrounding the frame grows smaller. Some soldiers can be faintly depicted in the background, but for a moment, darkness almost overtakes the screen. Perhaps the moment of clarity and calm in the image above is similar to the 'light' from the flame which doesn't allow this moment to darken. Both these scenes are very difficult to take in. 

The flame is a constant reminder of the execution that takes place, and as the bridge closes up, someone is seen hanging in the distance. (Is that Joan? It is hard to tell because in the next scene the wooden peg is still surrounded by flames, but the distant hanged person doesn't seem to be surrounded in the same way). Even though the mob has calmed down, Img 1 is not comforting. And neither is Img 3. 

In a sense, everyone is suffering. A child finds his mother dead with her eyes wide open, the smoke is cleared out in Img 1, showing us many confused faces and a hanged person in the distance. Instead of comfort, Img 3 raises many questions. Joan's question, 'Will I be with you in Paradise,' is left unanswered. Joan has been burned at the stake, the mob suffers, and the little children are left with dead mothers. 

What does it mean to be a saint and what does it mean to believe in one? All this stands against the cross, questioning not only the church and their decisions but also her devotion.  


Img 3



 


Comments

  1. Krishnan VenkateshNovember 27, 2021 at 9:06 PM

    This is very observant and powerful. I hadn't really thought about the post with the nail before: an image of spiritual absence? All we really see is pain and chaos, and something (illusions?) being burned away. Flames and smoke dominate. Could it be that what we see expresses no sense of spiritual oversight or hope? -- just human beings lost to their own violence and despair?

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