Movie spotlight
Giovanna D'Arco
With more than 50 years of experience as film director, Peter Greenaway (Nightwatching, Eisenstein in Guanajuato) combines the worlds of film and opera at the Verdi Festival in Parma, demonstrating what magic those two can do together with an all new approach to Giuseppe Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco, staged and edited by himself and his wife, Saskia Boddeke. The opera's libretto is based on Friedrich Schiller's 'The Maid of Orleans'. It tells the story of the French national hero Jeanne d'Arc, who defends her country against the English troops during the Hundred Years' War. Constantly torn between her humble roots, her love for King Charles VII and her heavenly task to fight for France, she gains eternal glory by giving her life in the final, victorious battle against England.
Insights
Plot Summary
In a contemporary Italian setting, this film reimagines the story of Joan of Arc. Giovanna, a young woman from a humble background, experiences visions that lead her to believe she is chosen to unite a fractured nation. Facing skepticism and opposition from religious and political authorities, she rallies a devoted following.
Critical Reception
Reviews for Giovanna D'Arco are scarce, likely due to its limited release and niche appeal. What little attention it garnered focused on its unconventional modernization of a historical figure and its artistic ambitions, though some found it challenging to connect with.
What Reviewers Say
An ambitious but uneven attempt to place a historical legend in a modern context.
Visually striking, but the narrative can be disjointed.
The film's thematic depth is present but not always effectively conveyed.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews is not readily available for this film.
Fun Fact
The film was shot in and around the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, lending an authentic, contemporary European backdrop to the reimagined historical narrative.
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