The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999)

Director:

Luc Besson

Writers:

Andrew Birkin (written by) &
Luc Besson (written by)

Release Date:

12 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | War

Plot:

A young girl receives a vision that drives her to rid France of its oppressors.

Plot Keywords:

France | Sword | Heretic | Fantasy Sequence | Severed Arm

Awards:

5 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Rab Affleck	...	Comrade
Stéphane Algoud	...	Look Out (as Stephane Algoud)
Edwin Apps	...	Bishop
David Bailie	...	English Judge
David Barber	...	English Judge
Christian Barbier	...	Captain
Timothy Bateson	...	English Judge
David Begg	...	Nobleman - Rouen's Castle
Christian Bergner	...	Captain
Andrew Birkin	...	Talbot
Dominic Borrelli	...	English Judge
John Boswall	...	Old Priest
Matthew Bowyer	...	The Bludgeoned French Soldier
Paul Brooke	...	Domremy's Priest
Bruce Byron	...	Joan's Father

Also Known As:

Joan of Arc (Australia) (Philippines: English title) (UK)
Jeanne d'Arc (France)
Joana d'Arc (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Juana de Arco (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Giovanna d'Arco (Italy) [it]
Ioana d'Arc (Romania) [ro]
Ioanna tis Lorainis (Greece) [el]
Jan Dark (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Jeanne d'Arc (Denmark) [da]
Jeanne d'Arc (Finland) [fi]
Jeanne d'Arc (Sweden) [sv]
Jeanne d'Arc, az Orleans-i szûz (Hungary) [hu]
Johanna von Orleans (Germany) [de]
Juana de Arco, de Luc Besson (Spain) [es]
La messagère: L'histoire de Jeanne d'Arc (Canada: French title) [fr]
Luc Besson's Johanna von Orleans (Germany) [de]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic battles, a rape and some language.

Runtime:

158 min | USA:148 min

Country:

France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | New Zealand:R15 (re-rating) | Philippines:PG-13 | New Zealand:R18 (theatrical rating) | Italy:VM18 (tv rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:C | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Beynac, Dordogne, France

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

Giles de Rais (Vincent Cassel's character) was a real person who after the war and Joan's death retired to his lands. Years later, he was arrested for the murder of more than a hundred young boys and was executed. Some historians believe that his crimes became the basis for the French fairy tale "Bluebeard" about a rich man who murders his wives and hides their bodies in his grand house.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When the siege tower falls on the gate to the castle, everybody behind the gate door runs away. But on the next clip, there are a lot of people stuffed in under the falling gate.

Quotes:

Joan of Arc: Give me an army, send me to Orleans, and I will show you the sign I was sent to make.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: The Search for the Real Joan of Arc: An Exclusive Look Beyond the Icon - 'The Messenger' (#6.9)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

My Heart Calling

Milla was simply breathtaking as Joan

Some movies would probably try to make a more divine spirit out of Joan but at least Besson examines all possibilities as regards to what inspired her. I think it was as honest a film you could make about Joan. Her quest for revenge combined with tremendous belief in the forces above that ignited her fire. Through Dustin Hoffman the viewer can question her motives and get her response. And what a performance! Milla was simply breathtaking as Joan.