The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
French theatrical release poster
Directed by	Luc Besson
Produced by	Patrice Ledoux
Written by	Luc Besson Andrew Birkin
Starring	Milla Jovovich John Malkovich Faye Dunaway Dustin Hoffman Gina McKee Tchéky Karyo
Music by	Éric Serra
Cinematography	Thierry Arbogast
Edited by	Sylvie Landra
Production company	Gaumont
Distributed by	Gaumont
Release date	18 October 1999 (1999-10-18) (premiere) 27 October 1999 (1999-10-27) (France) 12 November 1999 (1999-11-12) (United States)
Running time	158 minutes
Country	France
Language	English
Budget	$60 million
Box office	$67 million

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d'Arc) is a 1999 French historical drama film directed by Luc Besson. The film stars Milla Jovovich, John Malkovich, Faye Dunaway and Dustin Hoffman. The screenplay was written by Besson and Andrew Birkin, and the original music score was composed by Éric Serra.

The Messenger portrays the story of St. Joan of Arc, the French war heroine and religious martyr of the 15th century. The story begins with young Joan as she witnesses the atrocities of the English against her family, and she is portrayed as having visions that inspire her to lead the French in battle against the occupying English forces. Her success in routing the English allows Charles VII to take the throne. Eventually Joan is tried and executed for heresy.

Besson's previous film, The Fifth Element, which also starred Jovovich, was a critical and financial success, and it had a positive influence on both their careers. The Messenger was intended to follow up that success and cement the status of Besson and Jovovich in film. However, the film received mixed reviews from critics and underperformed at the box office, earning just under $67 million on an $60 million budget.

As a child, Joan has a violent and supernatural vision. She returns home to find her village burning. Her sister Catherine tries to protect her by hiding her from the attacking English forces, part of a longstanding rivalry with France. Joan, while hiding, witnesses the brutal murder and rape of her sister. Afterward, Joan is taken in by distant relatives.

Several years later at Chinon, the Dauphin and soon to be King of France, Charles VII (John Malkovich), receives a message from the now adult Joan (Milla Jovovich), asking him to provide an army to lead into battle against the occupying English. After meeting him and his mother-in-law Yolande of Aragon (Faye Dunaway) she describes her visions. Desperate, he believes her prophecy.