Really extraordinary shots and lighting, the filmmaking pushes the medium further away from stage and into the compositional awareness that would dominate filmmaking for the rest of its time. The angles are used with explicit thematic impression in mind. The story again was poignant and bold, featuring the dying Joan of Arc in all her suffering.
Religious imagery is sprinkled all throughout the film. What's notable about it is that there is no makeup even while there are extreme close ups that emphasize the pores, and the brutal expressions of these actors are thrust upon you with such intense close ups that make sure to light their faces evenly so that their eyes stand out in the shot brilliantly. There is a brutal reality to the film that will be repeated throughout the 30’s and later in the 50’s with french cinema especially.
The brutal realness of the filmmaking stands out at the time it was made. You see this push away from the set and into reality, the change in performance onscreen too is tangible, with the expressions being nuanced and not played up in an exaggerated manner like they usually are.