A transcendent masterpiece of the silent film era, The Passion of Joan of Arc is a vivid, immersive journey through the agonies of martyrdom. Carl Theodor Dreyer’s expressionistic, intimate techniques immerse viewers in the hours before Joan’s fateful trial. Classical music rising star Dr. Filip Presseisen will accompany the 1928 film on Northrop's historic  Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. Known for his ingenious use of the organ, the concert musician serves as head of the Instrumental Department at the Archdiocesan School of Music in Krakow, Poland, and is the winner of the 2015 International Silent Film Competition held in Berlin, Germany.

Free for UMN students; registration required.

Know Before You Go

Event Information

  • Building & Bistro Opens: 1:00 pm (Hot food service ends at 2:30 pm.)
  • In-person Seating: General Admission
  • Theater Doors Open: 2:00 pm
  • Performance Begins: 3:00 pm
  • Duration: Approximately 120 mins, followed by a 20-minute Q&A
  • Post Show Q&A with Filip Presseisen using Slido
  • Tickets: Check the email you provided when you placed your order to locate your digital ticket. Be sure to check your spam or junk mail folders if you do not see them.
  • Detailed Event Information or Streaming Access will be made available closer to the date: Find Your Event Info link on your order confirmation or check your email within 48 hours for detailed information from Northrop, U of M

If you need assistance with your tickets, please call 612-624-2345, email umntix@umn.edu.

Road Construction Alert

  • Major I-94 construction begins the weekend of this event. I-94 eastbound will be fully closed between 11th Avenue South and Franklin Avenue SE.
  • Traffic will be also reduced to one lane of University Avenue between 10th Avenue SE and 14th Avenue SE. Plan extra time for your commute if you are entering campus via University Avenue through Dinkytown.

Program

View the Program

View the mobile-friendly digital program before and after the performance.

Gallery

Explore Single Ticket Discounts Galore*

  • Films are free for UMN students!
  • First Year/Free Ticket for new UMN students and staff/faculty
  • $5 off for students and many others
  • Children 17 and under: 50% off base price, always
  • $30 under 30: 2 tickets per valid ID + one free beverage per ticket
  • 20% off tickets for groups of 10 or more   

*Some exclusions apply.

Quotes / Reviews

“Filip Presseisen's improvisations were unreservedly delightful...the sound of the organ under Presseisen's fingers was simply marvelous, clear, malleable, housed in the beautiful acoustics of the concert hall.”—Telewizja Racjonalista

“Presseisen filled the hearts of the audience. Soft, flowing, devotional, with varied variations in tempo and volume, the organist conveyed a view of the creation of the world that was hopeful.”—Schwäbische Post

Learn More - Explore These Themes

The content below derives from the Northrop Across Campus Program that supports Northrop's mission towards intersections between performing arts and education for the benefit of all participants now and for generations to come.

Find ways to make thematic connections to these suggested topics:

Cinematography
Filmmaking
History of film
Silent film
Music: Organ Performance, Composition, Music for Film
French/European Studies
Medieval Studies
Architecture
Religious Studies
Gender Studies
European History

Take a deeper dive with these resources that provide additional information about the performers, the history of the artform, and the artistic process.

Links:

Organist Dr. Filip Presseisen website

Presseisen organ improvisation video

The New York Times Archive: Maria Falconetti   Find in UofM Library

TIME: “The 100 Best Movies Of The Past 10 Decades”: The Passion of Joan of Arc

Roger Ebert Review: The Passion of Joan of Arc

Library of Congress: Joan of Arc - French Women & Feminists in History

Start a conversation about the performance or encourage reflection, using these questions as inspiration.

 

The Passion of Joan of Arc, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer in 1928, reimagines the final hours prior to Joan's fateful trial. In a New York Times review in 1929, Maria Falconetti's performance was lauded as "[rising] above everything in this artistic achievement."

  • How do you imagine Falconetti’s portrayal of Joan influenced cinema and beyond?
  • How did Falconetti convey such a vivid performance without language? What forms of nonverbal communication might an actor have to rely upon in silent film?
  • How could Falconetti's portrayal of Joan of Arc be analyzed through a feminist framework?

This silent film features live accompaniment from renowned organist and improviser Dr. Filip Presseisen. Presseisen is head of the Instrumental Department at the Archdiocesan School of Music in Krakow, Poland, and won the 2015 International Cinema Organ Competition and Feliks Nowowiejski International Organ Competition.

  • How might improvisation for a tragedy differ from that for a comedic film?
  • What could be the unique challenges or advantages of improvising on a concert hall organ, such as Northrop’s expansive Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ?

Dreyer’s surrealist artistic vision and Falconetti’s expressive performance create vivid historical fiction about the death of nineteen-year-old Joan of Arc. Joan lived in medieval France and fought the British in the Hundred Years’ War after believing God had chosen her to lead the fight (she was later canonized as the patron saint of France).

  • How does art affect our perception of memory? 
  • How does the film balance historical accuracy with artistic license?
  • In what ways does this film reflect European society in the early 20th century rather than the 15th century? 
  • What effect does medieval symbolism have on audiences in 2024?

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

link opens new tab to Minnesota State Arts Board logo