England Isn’t Britain

Film critics who review historical films should have some knowledge of history. Kenneth Turan, in his review of “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc,” refers twice to the “British” opponents (“Leaps of Faith,” Nov. 12).

The nation Great Britain did not exist until 300 years after Joan’s fight against the English. If Turan were reviewing one of the films about Christopher Columbus made several years ago, he presumably would tell us that Columbus discovered the United States.

ROY M. PITKIN

Pacific Palisades