Joan the Maid

Director Jacques Rivette's epic chronicle starring Sandrine Bonnaire as Joan of Arc opens with "Joan the Maid: The Battles," in which the 15th-century teenager attempts to convince the French Dauphin (André Marcon) that she has been called by God to lead the nation in combat against the English. Then, "Joan the Maid: The Prisons" tells of how Joan was left by her men for capture by the British and sentenced to death at the stake. Nathalie Richard, Edith Scob also star. 5 2/3 hrs. Widescreen; Soundtrack: French; Subtitles: English. In French with English subtitles. Two-disc set.