In 1412, a young girl called Jeanne is born in Domrémy, France. The times are hard: The Hunderd Years war with England has been going on since 1337, English knights and soldiers roam the country. Jeanne develops into a very religious young woman, she confesses several times a day. At the age of 13, she has her first vision and finds a sword. When coming home with it, she finds the English leveling her home town. Years after that, in 1428, she knows her mission is to be ridding France of the English and so sets out to meet Charles, the Dauphin. In his desperate military situation, he welcomes all help and gives the maiden a chance to prove her divine mission. After the successful liberation of Orléans and Reims, the Dauphin can be crowned traditionally in the cathedral of Reims - and does not need her anymore, since his wishes are satisfied. Jeanne d'Arc gets set up in his trap and is imprisoned by the Burgundians. In a trial against her under English law, she can't be forced to tell about her divine visions she has had continuously since childhood. Being condemned of witchcraft and being considered as relapsed heretic, she is sentenced to death. Jeanne d'Arc is burnt alive in the marketplace of Rouen on May 30th, 1431, at only 19 years of age.

Giles de Rais (Vincent Cassel's character) was a real person who after the war and Joan's death retired to his lands. Years later, he was arrested for the murder of more than a hundred young boys and was executed. Some historians believe that his crimes became the basis for the French fairy tale "Bluebeard" about a rich man who murders his wives and hides their bodies in his grand house.

[In questioning Joan regarding all the gifts that King Charles VII bestowed upon her]


Priest:
Did he not also give you many dresses? Silk dresses, weren't they?


Joan of Arc:
Yes, he gave me a few, but I never had time to wear them.


Priest:
Still... You seem a little wealthy to be a simple peasant, don't you think?


Joan of Arc:
You seem a little wealthy to be a servant of God, don't you think?

Crew or equipment visible: When Joan is riding her horse up to the castle to meet with Charles VII for the first time, an enormous shadow of the craning cameraman can be seen.

Lyrics and Music by Eric Serra and Noa
Produced by Eric Serra
Performed by Noa
With the Special Authorization of Interscope/Geffen