Messenger: The Story Of Joan Of Arc, The

With historical accuracy, not merely mythology, The Messenger: The Story Of Joan Of Arc tells the story of the illiterate peasant girl who believed she was called upon by God to save France—and who did just that and then paid for it with her life at just 19 years of age. In contrast to the television production starring Leelee Sobieski, this is a serious-minded, but highly entertaining, historical epic painstakingly researched using rare illustrated manuscripts from the National Archives in France as well as actual translated transcripts from her trial. It should also be noted that the original title was simply Joan Of Arc, but with the aforementioned television movie airing just ahead of its release, the title was changed. However, the on-screen title was not altered for the 158-minute international version on our DVD, but was changed for the 148-minute VHS/U.S. theatrical version.