Bruno Dumont's 'Jeannette' Adapts Péguy's Joan of Arc as Baroque Musical

Bruno Dumont's film 'Jeannette, sur la terre comme au ciel' adapts Charles Péguy's plays 'Jeanne d'Arc' (1897) and 'Le Mystère de la charité de Jeanne d'Arc' (1910), focusing on Joan of Arc's childhood and adolescence. The film features non-professional actors, music by Igorrr blending death metal, breakcore, flamenco, and baroque influences, and choreography by Philippe Decouflé. It premiered in French theaters on September 6, 2017. Dumont retains his signature elements: Northern French landscapes, amateur actors, and a baroque, mystical tone. The text is performed in its original poetic form, with cuts, and is revitalized by natural settings. A notable scene involves the apparition of saints, echoing Manoel de Oliveira's 'Non, ou la vaine gloire de commander' (1990). The film's musical and dance sequences evolve from a cappella singing to full-band accompaniment, with choreography emerging organically from the actors' movements. Dumont previously explored literary adaptations through Georges Bernanos and Paul Claudel.