A silent classic, Carl Dreyer was using modern cinema tricks decades before his contemporaries. The tale of the trial and burning at the stage of Joan of Arc in 1400s Inquisition-era France, the highlights here are Maria Falconetti's anguished portrayal of the saint, a thankless role that earned her no acclaim at the time. But Falconetti burns (no pun intended) as the tortured young woman -- if only the rest of the movie could keep up with her and the cinematography.

Aka La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc.