Customer Reviews

Reluctant Saint - Francis of Assisi

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

In this production, St. Francis comes out of the birdbath. He is seen more human like the rest of us than in many of the previous films about this remarkable saint. We see and hear of his struggles all throughout his life. We are told that even in the end of his life he considered himself to be a failure while at the same time able to demonstrate an amazing faith in God. Insights into his life and times as well as his personality helps to fill in a lot of the blanks that exist in many other works about St. Francis. This is a good resource for those well versed in the life of St. Francis and those who are just discovering him.

I was expecting a biographical film like Brother Sun, Sister Moon. I had read Spoto's book and loved it. However, this is really a documentary, with only brief re-enactments of Francis's life. The bulk of the 60 minute content is clips from interviews with "experts in the field". So this is useful, but not what I would have purchased, if I had understood this before. Not a film--a short docudrama.

This film/ documentary did nothing for me, and was a bland and at times inaccurate portrayal of one of the world's Most Loved historical figures. Although I have done a large amount of reading and research on Saint Francis, I can honestly say that you can find out more about his life from "googling" him and reading two random web-pages. It is hard to imagine in 60 minutes any less could be said about St. Francis. Moreover, some of the information was completely false. In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, this film in no way illustrates the Life of a man who merged with God and became a Living Prayer himself. In others words, spend your money else where.

This is not a film, like it says in the box. I feel very disapointed because there was not real description on this dvd item.
It also put under doubt the real saint that he was. When you buy something like this is because you believe in it.
It was so awful to me, I didn't bought a discussion I bougth a movie of the SAINT.

I was expecting a biographical film like Brother Sun, Sister Moon. I had read Spoto's book and loved it. However, this is really a documentary, with only brief re-enactments of Francis's life. The bulk of the 60 minute content is clips from interviews with "experts in the field". So this is useful, but not what I would have purchased, if I had understood this before. Not a film--a short docudrama.

The movie should be viewed with a discerning spirit. I have not read Spoto's book, but there is an interview on the dvd where he details his big guy education and profession. As is all too common with theologians; however, I could not tell if he is a Christian or not. He does not proclaim that he knows and loves Jesus, he just proclaimed himself. Aside from Spoto and his book, which were reportedly used to make the movie, the movie has very little credibility, a fact which is most likely due to the editor Kris Liem and/or the production company, Faith and Values Media. And here is why I am stating this. Not very long into the movie, which is full of supposed expert commentary, a lady broke in saying "I think he was on the brink of madness...what I know of people who are sort of treading near enlightenment, that you can go either direction, and he was hearing voices. I am sure that he didn't know why.. that he wondered himself if he was crazy." Well, these comments set off the alarms of discernment, praise be to the Holy Spirit. The mark of the deceiver was obvious. I did a quick search on the internet to find that the lady, Gretel Ehrlich, is a practicing buddhist. Later she said on the DVD "suffering was his path to enlightenment" CHRISTIANS BEWARE...... the editor and producer, whether they know it or not, are engaging in syncretism, mixing the truth of Jesus with the lies of Satan. The opinions of a deceived journalist are mixed in as if she knows, but her buddhist deception will mask the truth, particularly for unknowing or unaware Christians. Pray for Jesus to lighten the way for the lost while there is time for them to be reborn. Yes, even Gretel can be enlightened, and must be before she can be saved, but she must give herself to Jesus. As Jesus states in John 10, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." There are many other ways to enter the spirit world such as Zen meditation, Shaman, even just with drugs as in the western world, but these ways all lead to death. Enter into the sheepfold, the spirit world, only by the door, only by Jesus.

This version of St. Francis is the most realistic of all of them. It reveals how all of us must struggle towards God in our journeys on earth. Watch it.

I had always heard stories about St. Francis of Assisi, but seeing this documentary really showed this man of faith struggle with himself, his faith, his religion, and the higher powers within the Catholic Church. He just wanted to share his faith simply with others but his popularity brought problems of its own. It is a movie that every person of faith should see no matter what religious tradition they come from.

I found this video very informative and accurate and would recommend it to anyone who would like a factual account of St. Francis of Assisi

I read the book by Donald Spoto, and then watched the DVD. Both are well worth it. Outstanding!