Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc

Bruno Dumont never fails to surprise. This time, the darling of New Horizons audiences takes on the story of Joan of Arc. Instead of focusing on the most important events in the life of France's national heroine, however, the director focuses on her childhood. As if that were not enough, inJeanette..., Dumont continues his experiments with film genres and tells Joan's story in the form of a musical. The eclectic soundtrack includes techno, rock, and rap; the absurd dance numbers accompanying the songs result in a kind of humor reminiscent of Dead Waters. Dumont would not be himself, however, if he were limited to casual mockery. Combining a fervent faith with indomitable anger, Joan, like many of the French director's protagonists, finds herself balanced between sin and sainthood. Despite its historical setting, the film offers a pointed commentary on an era when religious fanaticism is increasingly becoming a source of violence.