Joanna Francesa

My review was written in May 1981 after a screening at Public Theatre in Greenwich Village: Currently riding high stateside with his recent film "Bye Bye Brasil", director Carlos Diegues has had an earlier film, "Joana Francesa", imported for belated release. Shot in 1973, "Joana" is a failed attempt at creating a political fable. Falling prey to audience-alienating tries at stylization, pic presents a tough sell in the "art film" market, though participation of Jeanne Moreau should arouse initial interest.

Thesps (including the unflappably dignified Moreau and co-star Carlos Kroeber) pose rather than act within Diegues' aloof pageant style. Poorly-dubbed Portuguese dialogue (with background sound largely omitted) further distances the action. Diegues' use of most of his characters as symbols (e.g., a child who is born of incest who is kept locked up in a shack crying until Joana shoots him in the final reel) rather than flesh-and-blood people is a turnoff.

For her efforts, Moreau gets to model numerous Pierre Cardin fashions, while coproducer Cardin himself pops up himself as a worldly friend.