Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Rating:
Summary: Another of Zeffirelli's gorgeous feasts
Review: Like his breathtakingly beautiful version of "Romeo and Juliet," the talented Franco Zeffirelli gives us a film about the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Look for the lush, stunning color,and scrupulously accurate attention to historical detail that is this director's hallmark--but don't look for a complex treatment of this most complex saint. Francis, as well as his followers, is portrayed as rather naive and simple, as is their appeal to the cynical and worldly Pope Innocent. This film was made during the hippie, flower-child era, and shows the stamp of that more innocent period, complete with Donovan's plaintive music score. The film is a visual treat and well-worth seeing as an accurate visual rendition of medieval life in Italy--13th century Assisi comes gorgeously alive--but Zeffirelli is not Fellini--don't look for depth in the characters.

Rating:
Summary: Well-done Biography of Christ's Little One
Review: This is the story of the early years of St. Francis of Assisi. A wonderful movie with wonderful music by Donovan, a great introduction to the life of this very holy man. END

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Dated; yes, but boring? . . . Never. Maybe if you're looking for action instead of inspiration. I've watched this movie countless times and have never failed to find its anti-materialist message inspirational. If it contains historical inaccuracies; show me a movie or book about a 13th century character that doesn't. Yes, it is dated to the '70s in places, but what of it? This is a movie with an essential message told well: i.e. The glory of war and possessions can't ultimately satisfy. And while I may hesitate to recommend this movie to anyone, say, under 40; if you want to know how it feels to leave the pursuit of yet another crummy dead-end job, for inner peace, Brother Sun Sister Moon may just do the trick.

Rating:
Summary: An unmistakeable Spirit
Review: The review by Tom Keogh at the beginning of these reviews was really mistaken( in my humble opinion)and does not see the hidden jewels beneath the suface of this very homely appearing object. The performance by Graham Faulkner is one example as it is a lucid, careful effort with a truly unique Franciscan understanding of simplicity and compassion. A really unguarded "childlike" innocence. I really hate to sound uncharitable to our friend Tom but for goodness sake! . I remember when I saw this film at a theatre in the spring of 1973 I was with a group of friends who scoffed and joked at the naivite of it. Outside a young man approached us and said that he had recently talked with Franco Zefferelli and that he had made this movie " from his heart". This young man was brimming with quiet good will and charity and this really struck me(and at that time I easily ridiculed all such non-sense as I then saw it). I too had really been moved by the film and this young person moved me too. My friends howled and scoffed at him(we were very young, all knowing, very clever Theatre students consumed by externals) but I refused to join in and told my friends that they were mistaken and misguided in their behavior and most of them scoffed at me too. Later one of them told me that she too knew where I was coming from and this too moved me. I mark this moment as when I really began to take a deeper interest in things spiritual and have continued to love St Francis and have read much about him and try to emmulate( as best I can ) his example hard though it is! One Book I highly reccommend and long out of print is St Francis of Assisi by Leonard Von Matt and Walter Hausen(Regency 1956). It has wonderous black and white photographs of Assisi with a simple narrative of his life. It might be got through Amazon or Bookfinder.com
This is a unique movie and for all it's supposed flaws(which I myself do not allow)captures the essence of the best of mystical understanding (of which please God I am no expert): it's simplicity, depth, and love for all things uneqivocally.

Rating:
Summary: They Just Don't Get It
Review: Several of these reviewers just don't get it. I'm an orthodox Catholic and a Secular Franciscan. Having done some research on this movie I know a little bit about Franco Zefferelli's intentions. Sure Francis starts out looking just like a 60s hippie and nature mystic. But that is the audience Zeferelli wanted to speak to. But as you watch the film you realize that, little by little, he tightens the reigns and leads the viewer back to the Church. Sure, there is evidence of wolves in sheep's clothing in the Catholic Church. But isn't that the way it always has been? Wasn't there a Judas even among Christ's own inner circle? But more importantly, without giving away too much of the plot, the papacy and the Church are finally vindicated in this film. Imagine Obi Wan Kenobi as the Pope! And, yes, there is some nudity, a rear view of Francis, based on a historical event. The director here, I think, wishes to show Francis' return to an Adam-like state before the fall. The problem is ours, not Francis'. So, yes, as a Secular Franciscan and a conservative orthodox Catholic I highly recommend this film. Don't let the director's strategy fool you. This movie is a great classic.

Rating:
Summary: A film worth watching only for the message
Review: I purchased this DVD from Amazon after my friends told me it was a great film. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli I expected it to be as good as 'Jesus of Nazareth' (1977). Unfortunately I didn't find it as good as that.

The movie touches only very few aspects of the life of St Francis. (St Clare is only a passing mention). There are a few good songs, including the title song, it would be a good musical but not a biography of a great saint.

The Catholic Church hierarchry is shown in the negative light. Pretty sad for a movie about one of the greatest saints of the Catholic Church.

The movie is worth watching, (especialy since there is no other Hollywood movie on this great Saint). It has touched many people, and inspired vocations to the Franciscan order.

If you really want to know the spirituality of this great saint then read the book.

Rating:
Summary: Wouldn't it be nice...
Review: Yes, it is a 70's flick, as Michael pointed out in his July review. And yes, like many 70's productions, it is not quite bad enough to earn an Ed Wood's type of following. However, I remember seeing the film in a theatre, when it first came out, and 'wanting' to believe that such utopian visions were within grasp.....

It is without doubt that the lure of a gentle soul, so powerful to many of us in the 70's, and which could overcome such a weakly produced movie, has been effectively destroyed. But was it really replaced with a better, more ethical model, as the neo-cons would wish us to believe? It seems that it is hardly a victory to view this film cynically, with pseudo world-weary eyes.

I have worked for 30 years in public health, and seen many horrible and soul-greying events, in Africa as well as in the US of A. Hope and belief in a "greater good" does seem rather simplistic. Yet.....I would not feel my child turning into a St Francis was a tragedy, more than see it as a naïve and waste of talent. But I would question my own worth and self-respect as a parent if my child turned out to be Dick Cheney.

Rating:
Summary: Query
Review: This film was unique, yet gave a pretty accurate portrayal of St. Francis of Assisi.
But ... the scene where the Franciscans are building that chapel during winter, and there's a closeup of this kid sitting under some ruins and smiling at the camera ... was that Sarah Jessica Parker? I thought maybe that was her first television appearance.

Rating:
Summary: Lack of character development limits movie
Review: I have admired St. Francis since reading G.K. Chesterton's biography of him in high school. He is one of my favorite saints. While I liked the film, its' failure to develop any of the characters taught me little about St. Francis, St. Clare or anyone else in the movie. I got to know St. Francis the symbol, not St. Francis the man.

In the movie St. Francis seems like a nice enough fellow. He grew up wealthy and spoiled but his experiences during one of the crusades, his near death experience and his realization that the poor suffer while the rich are fed change him. He changes from a rich brat to a saint who renounces his, and his fathers, worldly possessions and ministers to the poor. Along the way he converts many of his friends and even St. Clare. He even seeks the Pope's advice and approval when local church leaders turn against him.

The Pope sees the holiness in St. Francis. I was pleased with the Pope's response and found myself wishing the best for St. Francis. He really was a nice holy man.

The problem is I never got to know St. Francis or anyone in the movie. All the characters seem like symbols. For instance, the father of St. Francis is a rich man who worships money. There is a rich playboy who once he really saw the poor joined Francis. There is the war hero who was troubled by what he saw in the war and finds peace with Francis. There is even a skeptical friend who works for the church but finally sees the holiness in the message preached by St. Francis. Yet, I don't know why they changed or who they were before their conversions.

I wish the movie spent more time developing a few of the characters, especially St. Francis, so their conversions actually meant something. The good guys won in this movie but I wish I knew why.

I recommend the film but I was left wanting much more.

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Dated; yes, but boring? . . . Never. Maybe if you're looking for action instead of inspiration. I've watched this movie countless times and have never failed to find its anti-materialist message inspirational. If it contains historical inaccuracies; show me a movie or book about a 13th century character that doesn't. Yes, it is dated to the '70s in places, but what of it? This is a movie with an essential message told well: i.e. The glory of war and possessions can't ultimately satisfy. And while I may hesitate to recommend this movie to anyone, say, under 40; if you want to know how it feels to leave the pursuit of yet another crummy dead-end job, for inner peace, Brother Sun Sister Moon may just do the trick.