"Let us always remember that our country was born from the heart of a woman, from her tenderness and tears, and from the blood she spilt for us. (Michelet)" "1427." "The English occupy a large part of France, a country worn out by a war which has lasted almost a century." "The sole claimant to the throne, the Dauphin Charles VII, remains unable to regroup those forces loyal to the crown and has taken refuge in his Loire châteaux, the plaything of a venal court." "The country, defenceless, suffers a lingering death." "Meanwhile, in Domrémy, a Lorraine village on the Meuse..." "Rémy Loiseau and Jeanne d'Arc have been best friends since childhood." "That evening, several soldiers, worn out from battle, stopped by the village fountain and Jacques d'Arc, the village elder, asked them for news of the war." ""Come, friends, I will give you food and lodging."" ""My children!"" "And as the evening wore on, these soldiers from afar told of the "great sorrow of the realm of France."" "From that moment, the soul of the young Lorraine girl was wracked with anguish, and one day divine voices were beating at her ears, saying:" ""Jeannette, you must leave your village."" ""Go to the aid of the King." "You will return his realm to him."" "And, when the little shepherd girl returned home that evening," "Our Ladies St Catherine and St Margaret appeared to her." ""I am only a poor girl."" ""I know nothing of horsemanship and war!" "..."" ""...if it is the will of God..."" "The next day." ""Do you know what this fine young man wants?"" ""To take you for wife."" ""I must not marry." "God has commanded me to find the Dauphin, and lead his men in arms, to deliver France."" ""If I really believed what you're telling me," "I'd drown you with my own hands."" ""If it pleases God, I shall go."" "The shadow of misery spreads wider across France." "While the peasants flee through the wasted land," "English reinforcements invade the North." "By agreement with Lord Philippe de Bourgogne, I undertake to assist the captains of King Henry at the siege of Orléans." " Jean de Luxembourg" "Glasdall, one of the bravest of the English captains." ""By the word of William Glasdall," "Orléans will be ours within three months, and not a soul will be left alive..."" "Meanwhile at Domrémy..." "And once more the urgent voices whispered to Jeanne:" ""Find Captain de Baudricourt, in the town of Vaucouleurs."" ""He will give you men to take you to the Dauphin."" ""I shall obey," replied Jeanne." "A surprising story begins to spread..." "A maiden, dressed like a pageboy, who claims to be sent by God to save France, is travelling from Lorraine with an escort." "Through a region full of enemies and infested with thieves," "Jeanne passes miraculously unharmed, trusting her guiding voices." ""Fear nothing." "We shall not be stopped."" ""My brothers in Paradise guard our path."" "While this great miracle is unfolding, elsewhere, in a gloomy castle on the banks of the Loire," "Sir Gilles de Rais, the legendary Bluebeard, a refined and sadistic lord, has become the symbol of a degenerate age of scandal, cruelty and excess." "My dear cousin, you must join me immediately to discuss the arrival here in Chinon of a peasant girl who claims to be sent by God to bring us help." ""Is there still no news?"" ""Travellers told us that she has gone to speak to the King."" "Pursuing her holy mission, Jeanne aroused feelings of fervour and admiration along the route." "And, following her example, French people of all ages and professions leave their homes to join the army and march towards Jeanne, like the Magi following their star." "The Dauphin Charles, hesitant and uneasy by nature, was living at Chinon, surrounded by counsellors more interested in their own concerns than in those of the country." "Your Royal Highness" " By order of Captain de Baudricourt," "I am sending you a girl from Domrémy who seeks an audience, saying that she has been sent by God to save the realm and conduct you to your coronation at Reims." ""Madness... or witchcraft!" "The wise move is to avoid her."" ""On the contrary, you must receive her."" ""The people believe in prophecies..."" ""Is it not written that if France was lost by a woman, only a virgin can save her."" ""Receive her, my lord!" "The advice of St Paul is to test spirits to see if they truly come from God!"" "At Chinon, where his court is in hiding, occupied with futile intrigues, the Dauphin Charles VII is deeply troubled by the insistent requests of the peasant girl, and grants her audience, against the advice of his entourage." ""That is Guy de Laval and Ysabeau de Paule."" ""Jeanne of Domrémy requests admittance to the King."" ""Lord, before listening to her, let us test this so-called envoy of God."" "Lord La Trémouille, wicked, dishonest, cynical and greedy, the Dauphin's most pernicious chamberlain." ""God grant you long life, kind Dauphin."" ""I am Jeanne the Maid, sent by the Lord in Heaven to bring you help."" ""Give me armed men, and I will raise the siege of Orléans and lead you crowned to Reims."" ""I tell you, in God's name, you are the King's son, and the rightful heir to France."" ""We shall have her questioned by doctors of theology."" "Impressed by her prophecy, and finding in Jeanne nothing but honesty, humility and devotion," "Charles VII decides to let her lead the army to the relief of Orléans." "Brother Pasquerel, chosen by Jeanne to be her chaplain, presents her with the standard that she herself designed." "Close by, the most valiant captains of the realm make their final preparations..." "They include:" "Xantrailles..." "The Duke of Alençon..." "Lord de Rais..." "The rough Captain La Hire and Jeanne." ""God be damned!"" ""You are La Hire?"" ""How dare you blaspheme against the name of the Lord?"" ""Give me your word that you will never do so again!"" ""I promise that I'll try..."" ""If ever you break your promise, you will give my chaplain the price of one mass."" ""It's a deal!"" ""My lord, you will leave that girl in peace."" ""Are you not aware that she is betrothed to one of your companions?"" "This army that now advances, lead by the girl with bright eyes, is France - a France mortally wounded, who now stands up and marches, led by Hope, onward to her glorious destiny." ""Is it wise for you to be here amongst these rough soldiers?"" ""Why should I fear for my safety, amongst so much valiant chivalry?"" "And soon, from the heart of the countryside, another army emerges, consisting of those who have abandoned their homes, parents and loved ones, to serve a cause which they hold miraculous, and which is no less than the rebirth of France..." "As she seduced the captains, Jeanne now seduces the army." "From this rough band of looters and libertines," "Jeanne forged a disciplined army of soldiers, restoring their national pride and their faith." "Around Orléans, the English have built a massive siege." "Nevertheless, the city has not lost all hope of aid, for the unfinished barricades have left a few gates unguarded and so it is that a strange rumour climbs the battlements and penetrates the enemy camp." "Captain John Talbot, nicknamed the English Achilles." ""What's going on over there?"" ""My lord, the Dauphin's army has entered Orléans, led by the Armagnac witch."" "As soon as she arrives in Orléans," "Jeanne orders the enemy to abandon the siege." "On their refusal, she leads her army across the Loire and prepares to attack the English fortifications." "On top of the towers, considered impregnable," "Glasdall watches the preparations with an easy heart." "On the walls of Orléans, the people watch anxiously..." ""Here, Friar, the price of 3 masses for 3 blasphemies!"" "And the irresistible tide of Jeanne's army reaches the notorious towers." "Retreat." ""Soldiers!"" ""Once my standard has gained the wall," "Enter... for the city is yours!"" "The English are driven back..." "Here..." "There..." "Everywhere..." "Carnage..." ""What have we done, O Lord..." "what have we done!" "..."" "That night, the people celebrate the liberation of their city." "And Jeanne sees once more the ghastly vision of the field of battle where for so long she wandered through the carnage in despair." "Crowning the victory of Orléans, the Battle of Patay opened the road to Reims, where Jeanne, as her voices had told her, sees the Dauphin crowned King of France." "A whole winter passed, during which Jeanne led her king from victory to victory, waging fierce war on the English." "But a defeat at Paris stopped the tide." "Plots were laid against her, until one day, against all advice, and escorted only by a few loyal companions, she left to aid the town of Compiègne..." "An indifferent Charles VII had let her depart, preferring the quiet of his Loire châteaux to the noise of war." "And one day, he learned..." ""My lord, did you know that Jeanne is a prisoner within the walls of Compiègne?"" ""What can we do?"" ""We do not have enough money to pay her ransom!"" ""As on previous occasions, she boldly attacked the English, but when night fell and she tried to re-enter the town..."" "Her last words were:" ""For God and my King!"" "Taken prisoner by Jean de Luxembourg," "Jeanne is sold to the English, who want her put to a dishonourable death." "She is delivered to an ecclesiastic tribunal, with instructions to condemn her as a witch." "On 9 January 1431, the infamous trial begins." ""My lord, it is time." "We have an agreement?"" "Bishop Pierre Cauchon." ""Don't be concerned, Warwick." "The Church will judge her fairly..."" ""..." "And we shall try to save her if it lies within our power."" ""Prepare yourself, Jeanne, to appear before your judges."" "Nicolas Loyseleur, the subtle and wily clerk of the Tribunal." ""Jeanne, place your hand on the Gospels and swear to tell the truth."" ""I do not know what questions you may ask."" ""Perhaps you will ask me things I ought not tell you."" ""Do you know if you are in a state of Grace?"" ""If I am not, may God put me there."" ""And if I am, may God so keep me."" ""Do you believe that you have offended God?"" ""If I have, I ask forgiveness from the depth of my heart."" ""If I have not, I thank Him, as for the greatest kindness He can give."" ""I firmly believe that I shall go to Paradise!"" ""Do you know if Saints Margaret and Catherine hate the English?"" ""They love what Our Lord loves, and they hate what He hates."" ""So then does God hate the English?"" ""All I know is that they shall be driven from France, excepting those who die here."" ""Bishop, really - this is too much to endure!"" ""Burn this witch!"" ""I have no judges in this world."" ""I came from God." "I have no further work here."" ""Return me to God, from whom I came!"" ""The question is too weighty..."" ""This child would not know how to answer."" ""Those are not the words of Jeanne."" ""This trial is a disgrace!"" ""Don't all talk at once, Holy Fathers!"" ""In due course, Jeanne, you will confess it is the Devil you conspire with!"" ""You offend God, Jeanne!"" "Her judges, convinced that she is a witch, are determined to make her acknowledge this, and submit her to mental torture every day for months." ""If I confess, I will say later that you forced it from me."" ""I submit myself to you and to the Holy Church."" ""If you recant, you will be released."" ""I submit myself to the Church and I pray to St Michael to guide me."" ""You must recant or you will be burned."" ""What does recant mean?"" ""You try too hard to tempt me."" ""Jeanne, do as they ask." "Do you want to die?"" "I confess that I have grievously sinned by clothing myself dissolutely, and wearing my hair like a man, against the nature of my female sex." "And I swear that I shall never return to these errors." ""Don't worry, my lord, we shall have her again..."" "Betrayal." ""You promised and swore never to wear man's attire again."" ""I could not remain naked before your soldiers..."" ""My clothes were exchanged while I slept."" ""I don't want to die!"" ""Master Pierre..." "where shall I be this night?"" ""In Paradise, certainly."" ""You promised to place me in the arms of the Church, and you have delivered me to the English..."" ""Courage, Jeanne, it will be quick..."" ""We are damned!" "..."" ""We have..."" ""...burned a Saint!""