canonization

His masterpiece 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' examines the trial and canonization of Joan through intimate close-ups that question faith, institutional power, and martyrdom.

His films like 'The Gospel According to St. Matthew' and 'Salò' interrogate how institutions sanctify certain figures and narratives while condemning others, exploring canonization as a form of social control.

Works like 'Diary of a Country Priest' and 'Au Hasard Balthazar' explore spiritual transcendence and the making of saints through minimalist aesthetics, questioning what deserves sacred status.