Joan of Arc vs. The Messenger

“Once upon a time known as the Dark Ages - there lived a legend whose coming had been foretold by the great prophet Merlin. – It was said that after nearly a century of war this young maiden would unite her divided people – and lead them to freedom. – It did not say how…” Joan of Arc introduction

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There are many stories told about the famous Joan of Arc, but who was she really? Did she really hear voices of saints? The truth is, no one knows but God himself. Throughout the years, there have been many adaptations of her story created, two of which are Joan of Arc starring Leelee Sobieski and The Messenger starring Milla Jovovich. For my blog this week, I have decided to compare these two movies. Therefore, this week I spent approximately 5 hours watching these movies and taking over 17 pages of notes. When I first began this, I expected there to be many more similarities between the two films, but I was extremely mistaken.

The Messenger was rated R, and for good reason. The movie had very graphic battle violence, rape and continual foul language. Whereas Joan of Arc, though it is not rated in the US, it was shown on public television and friendly for the entire family. There are a few similarities between the two films, but many more differences. Both films used the concrete historical facts for the basis behind the story, but with their own personal variations. These facts include Joan’s age, the battles/places, the plot for her death, and much of the trial itself. However, there were many historical differences as well.

One of the first differences I noticed was the name, not the title of the movie, but the character’s name. In Joan of Arc, it is ‘Joan’ with our English pronunciation, but in The Messenger, her name is Jeanne. The latter is most likely more accurate since she was French. This name difference was not the only differences between characters either; many of the characters came into the movies in different places and had either different names of pronunciations. One of the most important, in my opinion, is at the beginning of her story. For Joan the raid on her village and death of her blind friend in that raid is the catalyst to her mission. Jeanne’s catalyst is also during this raid by the “Black Knights;” however, rather than it being a friend killed, the catalyst is Jeanne’s witness to the murder and rape of her older sister’s corpse. One major point here, Joan does not have any sisters, only brothers, but Jeanne does, so the question is, which is true?

Now, for anyone that does not know the story of Joan of Arc, she claimed she was given signs from God through the voices of saints. Her mission was to ensure the crowning of King Charles (at the time Dauphine) and unite France. Joan claimed to hear the voices of the three saints, St. Catherine, Margaret, and Michael, but Jeanne never names those who speak to her. In fact, she only claims to her the voice through one man/boy. In the end, this man, played by Dustin Hoffman, is portrayed almost as Satan, though some call him her conscience. This would mean that Jeanne did the work of Satan and not the work of God, an interpretation by the writer’s of this film.

Hoffman's character made Jeanne doubt her action while on trial; he made her question her motives and actions. For example, "God asked you to do something? ... You mean, God said, I need you Jeanne?" "No, but he sent me signs."..."You didn't see what was Jeanne, you saw what you wanted to see.", and "In His name?" "Yes, in His name. We fought and killed in His name - the King of Heaven!" "Really? 'Let all who love me follow me!'" At this point Jeanne began doubting, thus Hoffman's character made her unable to concentrate during her trials and ultimately lead her to her execution. In Jeanne's desire to be confessed, though never granted by the biship, she 'confesses' to Hoffman's character, "I have committed sins my lord, so many sins. I saw so many signs...The ones I wanted to see. I fought out of revenge and despair. I was all the things that people believe they're allowed to be when they're fighting for a cause...I was proud and stubborn [Hoffman whispers 'selfish']...selfish ['cruel']...yes, cruel." Unlike Jeanne, however, Joan never doubts her voices and signs from God. As a matter of fact, while burning at the stake she looks up to heaven and whispers, "Thank you, thank you."

One final, crucial, difference is that Joan denies being the Maid of Lorraine but Jeanne embraces/claims it. The Maid of Lorraine was the myth that a virgin from Lorraine would save all of France. Joan did not want to be this woman, though she may well have been. However, from the beginning of Jeanne’s quest, she calls herself the Maid, “There is a girl…claiming to be the Maid of Lorraine, she will be here tomorrow.” Yet, both Joan and Jeanne go through tests to prove that they really are doing the work of God and that they are truly virgin. However, unknown to them, this was just a political ploy to uphold the ‘ratings’ of the common people, “It matters what the simple people think.”

In doing this, I am not claiming that one or the other is more accurate. My objective here was to prove that many people interpret history differently. There is no possible way to determine whether Joan/Jeanne really heard voices from God, and there is no way to know the true story behind her life. Though Joan of Arc and The Messenger have different methods of telling the story, they both tell the story of a brave girl who was executed by burning at the stake at only 19 years old. “Joan of Arc was burnt on May 30^th 1431, she was nineteen years old. She was canonized by the Vatican five hundred years later.”

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Disclaimer: All quotes taken directly from the movies. Picture found through Creative Commons search.

Here's some Youtube videos:
Joan of Arc: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjX9BS98Aqc [trailer]

The Messenger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgpt0v37j4s [trailer-amazing] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcM8ilpHsfQ [surrender scene]