Product Details

• Actors: Graham Faulkner, Judi Bowker, Leigh Lawson, Kenneth Cranham, Lee Montague
• Directors: Franco Zeffirelli
• Writers: Franco Zeffirelli, Kenneth Ross, Lina Wertmüller, Suso Cecchi d'Amico
• Producers: Dyson Lovell, Luciano Perugia
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: March 5, 1996
• Run Time: 121 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (178 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300216349
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,212 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #14 in	Video > Special Interests > Religion & Spirituality > Christian Video > Feature Films
  #43 in	Video > Drama > Religion
  #79 in	Video > Art House & International > United Kingdom > Drama

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It seemed like a good idea in 1973: a musical scored by Donovan about the life and times of St. Francis of Assisi, the passionate ascetic who expressed love for God by loving nature. But the finished product was something else. Filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli (Endless Love) makes a decorous effort at communicating the ideals of Francis and even tweaking the character toward flower-power relevance. But the result is feel-good fluff, a boring movie that doesn't penetrate its subject as much as reinvent him toward a modern bias. Graham Faulkner is entirely forgettable in the lead, and Donovan's songs on this project aren't exactly first-rate, either. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

305 of 313 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful film, January 21, 2001

By	Claudia McKinney "CrAzY BaG LaDiEs" (Southern Cal.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a member of the Franciscan Third Order and fell in love with this movie back when I was only 13. (I'm now 34) This movie is definitely a product of the 60's - but the message is timeless. I feel badly that the review by Amazon was so discouraging. I would not want anyone to read that and make a judgement.

The movie represents, in my opinion, the true beauty of the Franciscan charism. The joy, simplicity and love that our Saint Francis embodied. I felt that Mr. Faulkner was an EXCELLENT choice for the lead role - he couldn't have been any closer to what I imagine Francis being. The director, Franco Zeffirelli, has done notable films ("Endless Love" NOT among his best). If you are a fan of the famous "Jesus of Nazareth", then I would suggest viewing this. In any case, this is a wonderful little film to get you acquainted with this timeless saint.

One bit of trivia - Sir Alec Guinness wanted to play the part of the Pope - as he had just converted to Catholicism not long before the making of this film. :-)

Hope this rudimentary review helped!

200 of 204 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Light for the World, the Spirit and the Heart, December 6, 2000

By	Daniel Y. Graybeal (Newark, Delaware USA) - See all my reviews

After two weeks and four viewings of this simple but surprisingly rich and powerfully moving film about the early life of St. Francis of Assisi, its stirring music lingers in my ears, its hopeful message still aflame within my heart.

How does one rate movies? I choose five main categories: the filming, characters, musical score, development, and theme. All elements are related, so I conclude with overall remarks.

I see this film as primarily a religious one, with heavy emphasis upon personal development. Thus, I was pleased to see effective focus of the camera upon the facial expressions of the characters. For example, the eyes of Alec Guinness's Pope Innocent III clearly show me his great warmth and concern for young Francis as he asks the Holy See for his advice. Francis's eyes likewise convey his deep humility and sincerity. Pietro, ripping his bread from his jaws as he eats, reveals his fury raging uncontrollably. The filming also glorifies the fabulous scenery of Italy and the majestic colors of spring.

As for characters, the main question I always have is, are they believable? Can we identify with them? Even with Faulkner's Francis, to a certain extent (he was a saint, after all), I say yes. That he seems to have been "bought out" by Paulo at the papal court shows his human nature. Giocondo's reluctantly joining Francis and Bernardo, perhaps weighing contingencies, is not unlike what I might have done in his shoes.

The music? It was 1972, so Donovan was a good choice, but his score fitted well with one of Francis's life themes: simplicity. Francis's real-life musicians would likewise have sounded imperfect, which made the film more real for me. The instrumental music is breathtaking, sweet and stirring to the bone marrow. The hymns are simple and joyful enough to have established themselves in my ears even above the music of the Christmas season. While organ music didn't exist in 1206 A.D., it might have been added to reach a modern audience that might be alienated to Gregorian chanting. Historical realism is not the film's main goal, although the effects were well enough done to have earned it an Academy Award nomination.

Do the characters and plot develop enough to keep interest? In many of the characters I see the step-like change associated with the impact of profound religious influence. Francis, from pampered cloth-trade heir to tattered, mendicent friar is most striking. Powerful is his change of heart, from frivolous and selfish to pointedly purposeful and sacrificial lover of humanity and, indeed, all life. Bernardo, ever loyal, comes to realize what this loyalty must mean after his return from war. The bishop moves as a chess piece: forward in being humbled by Francis's example, backward in yielding to the powers of state.

Most importantly, I think, is the theme for this film. Although its messages are primarily religious, I feel it still reaches out to all audiences. The quest for purpose in life is inherently a religious quest. Francis seems to have made Jesus more accessible to tens of generations of Christians, even more so with this touching film. The compassionate and activist spirit in which he imitated the gospels has encouraged me to dig deeper to find Christ's meanings as he did.

Overall, this is a beautiful movie, one I would see a hundred times. I chant its hymns with exuberance. I am propelled by the flame it rekindled in my bosom to live more like Jesus, less afraid to reach out to people. I felt ten years younger watching Francis's reckless abandon. Yes, reviews are polarized between Sappy Movie Award to Best I've Seen Award, perhaps as much so as the generation who saw it first in the 1970s. A sensitive hero Faulkner's Francis is, but one with an iron rod of dedication. Most negative reviews focus on the film's technical aspects, while the positive reviews expound on the effect it has had on the viewer's heart and life's renewed sense of purpose and vigor.

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly inspiring and enlightening cinema masterpiece, February 19, 1999

By A Customer

How refreshing it is to see Brother Sun, Sister Moon once again, twenty-six years since the film's original release! In our world of today, when it seems that the only fare available on the big screen contains an overabundance of violence, brashness and materialism; it is still a joy to behold this bright, outstanding and enlightening montage of Franco Zeffirelli's homage to St. Francis of Assisi, even though only on video. With beautiful, colorful cinematography of actual locations; augmented by fine performances and a skillful scenario which is enhanced by Donovan's music of the kinder and gentler times of the Flower Child/Hippie era, this production is a wondrous blend which totally works in celebrating the life of a mystical man who worshipped the Creator through nature. Graham Faulkner's portrayal of St. Francis is sensitive and moving; running the gamut from madness to spiritual ecstacy to the realization of the virtues of simplicity. The young actor's sterling performance from 1973 is one which will always be remembered through this film. My only regret about the production is the fact that Donovan's music was never released as an audial soundtrack recording. Certainly, the original music is reminiscent of the Flower Child era; with lyrics that are beautifully melded, in some instances, with actual words of the First Franciscan, but what better music would be so perfectly representative of the Peace and Love which St. Francis practiced? I would certainly like to have a recording of this score to play in my automobile, if only to create a sense of serenity while driving in the rude and mean-spirited traffic of Los Angeles