After directing the successful hip sci-fi action movie 'The Fifth Element' starring both Bruce Willis and Mila Jovovich, Luc Besson dives into an epic lesson in French History. The time is 1420, and France is in its darkest hour. Morale is low as the British sweep across key points of mother France. There is no King, no ruler, no leader. Not until Joan of Arc comes along.

Having witnessed her sister's murder under the hands of the English, Joan's (Mila Jovovich) religious upbringing sees her speaking to God in her many visions. She is given a task: to lead France back to glory and to install its new King, Charles VII, then still the Dauphin (John Malkovich).

As a Messenger from God, the seventeen year old storms into the Dauphin's court and demands to lead an army of men into battle. After passing the Dauphin's tests, she is given a handful of men, whom she promptly leads into a series of successful battles, one of which an upset battle at Orleans (Or-Lhee-Ohn), a well fortified location.

Her vision of Charles VII being crowned the King of France also becomes reality and all of France was on Joan's side. But as Charles VII became King and wealth and power was his to command, he sold out Joan to the British.

Joan became tormented by her visions and imaginary conscience (Dustin Hoffman) and the two sides of the law, one of which wanted her dead, and the other which wanted to save her life. She was finally burned at the stake.

There is a strong religious message which follows this story, so if you are sensitive to religious material, you might want to give this a pass. The historical accuracy is also questionable and with about two hours and forty minutes of film, you might want to consider for a while before taking this challenge of a history lesson.