After the successes of the recent films “Joan of Arc” and Luc Besson’s “The Messenger”, Facet Multimedia has announced plans to release the 1994 Joan of Arc film Jeanne la Pucelle, better known to American audiences as Joan the Maid on DVD later this year.

Considered the most historically accurate telling of the story of Joan of Arc, “Joan the Maid” is the two-part story chronicling her life from childhood to her persecution and execution at the stake. The first film, “Joan the Maid: The Battles” follows Joan from her birth through her response to inner voices to early, triumphant victories over the English. The second film, “Joan the Maid: The Prisons” continues with Joan and the Dauphin of France embarking on a series of victories. But Joan is eventually captured and imprisoned. She is tried for sorcery, impurity, wearing men’s clothing, and refusal to submit to English rule, then condemned as a heretic and burned at the stake.

Facet will be releasing both chapters of “Joan the Maid” together mastered from a new 35mm print. No word has come down yet on aspect ratio, but the film will be presented in French with English subtitles. Although relatively light on features, the DVD will include filmographies, essays on the film’s director Jacques Rivette, the French New Wave, and the history of Joan of Arc on film. A detailed timeline will also be included.

“Joan the Maid” will be available on May 22nd, and will carry a suggested price of $39.95