Close enough to see
Dreyer returns to faces at the trial. Small changes in Joan’s expression take on enormous weight.
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Close-up / 1928
The Passion of Joan of Arc.
A face becomes the whole frame.
- Director
- Carl Theodor Dreyer
- Film
- 1928 · 80 min
01 / Screenings
Screenings
Screening format and subtitle details will be confirmed before ticketing opens.
02 / About the film
About the film
Carl Theodor Dreyer keeps the trial close. Faces and glances carry a film of unusual intensity and restraint.
03 / What to watch for
How does a close-up change the trial?
Few places to hide
Plain backgrounds and shallow spaces draw attention away from the courtroom and back to the people in it.
Uneasy glances
The looks between Joan and her judges do not always line up. The trial feels tense even in stillness.
Film information: BFI. BFI ↗