The Form of Tragedy——The Turn of Bresson's Thought, Reivew on The Trial of Joan of Arc

The rigid picture of Joan of Arc's trial may explain one thing, that is: human tragedies often befall people in banal ways. There is no drama, no accusation or justification. Some are just dull and silent. In fact, this is the theme of Bresson's middle and late works - judgment and loneliness. Neither Lancelot nor Muchet or the donkey could escape such an ending. The hopelessness of survival is no longer the new life or liberation that pickpockets and death row prisoners encounter. There is no chance, no hope, the world is full of inextricable pain.

However, the way of expressing this torturous "mediocre" is the lackluster MS--the monotonous MS during the trial is dull and boring, and it is a complete introduction; the trial transcript is read out according to the script-this is vulgar and crude. Things, in Joan of Arc, have a special taste that the crown of thorns had on Jesus. When Bresson's iconic partial CU (walking barefoot on the execution ground) appeared, the film also reached its end point. The anti-vulgar Jensen doctrine of the Catholic faith fills the film and presents the meaningful theme of "judgment" more directly than Balsat's "Fate". What is the difference between an unjust human judgment and an even more unreasonable judgment from God? No doubt, in heaven, there will also be a stake.

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