Brother Sun, Sister Moon (Widescreen)
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Movie Reviews of Brother Sun, Sister Moon (Widescreen)
Movie Review: A touching, charming film with a message
Summary: 5 Stars
This under-rated film provides some delightful moments and plenty to think about, as you follow the reckless young Francis through his early life, war experiences, and his conversion to a life of simplicity and faith. Director Zeffirelli has combined beautiful artistic elements and fine story telling to make a very enjoyable film. He used two unknown actors to play the leads to further lend a mystical quality to his Francis. The film was shot in the Tuscany town of San Gimignano, and has a great feel for an ancient version of Assisi. After watching the movie and then walking through the streets of modern Assisi, one has a whole new appreciation of Francis and his times. True, the film is dated and a little bit hokey in places, but the emotion is genuine and the work is obviously an effort of pure devotion. I know a number of Franciscan monks and while they all agree it is a little corny, they all enjoy the moive and recommend it to those wanting an introduction to St. Francis and the life he lived. The DVD version is a crisp cut of the film and has good sound and color. One trivial note: on the front cover montage, in the lower left corner, Francis is seen raising his arms in front of a church- the church is the Church of St. Francis, which wasn't built until several years after his death (his tomb is in the lowest level); and it is obviously not anywhere seen in the film! Interesting.
Die hard fans will want to obtain the Italian version of the film (Fratello Sole, Sorella Luna); it contains an additional 15 minutes not in the version here, including a few additional scenes (the opening of the Italian version has Francis and his friends drunkenly admiring the suits of armor Pietro has bought them for their upcoming military service) and extensions of some other scenes. One of these extended scenes, cut from the American release, shows the brothers begging in the streets of Assisi and coming upon a house where a chicken is cooking; the brothers all longingly linger over the smell of the cooking chicken, until Francis comes along and pities the person who would be cruel enough to eat one of God's creatures. I wonder why Zeffirelli chose to exclude this "vegetarian Francis" from the American version? The Italian version also has different music (none of the Donovan songs), and contains a few extras (there are no extras on this DVD), including a 16 minute "making of" film shot with a more amatuer lens. The clips are priceless and include some "behind the scenes" footage; it is a hoot to see Francis and his friends all sitting around smoking cigarettes! "Minerva Classics" has released a 2 DVD set with both the Italian and American cuts of the movie- it is available other places on the web, and also in the monestary bookstore in Assisi (and is less expensive there).
This is one of my favorite films, and I highly recommend it for everyone. A great film for young and old alike!
Movie Review: Gorgeous Canticle Reflects St. Francis
Summary: 5 Stars
Franco Zefferelli's biography of St. Francis, `Brother Sun and Sister Moon,' is a bona fide masterpiece. The cinematography--thanks partly to Ennio Guarnieno--unfolds kaleidoscopically. The editing and camera angles are sheer perfection. Watching the beauty unfold in every scene, village and landscape have the glory as if they were from Francis's own eyes. Created in 1972, Zefferelli draws from an audience during the waning years of the hippie era. Nevertheless, his implementation of an icon classic is one of the few figures of Catholicism to thrive during that time. (Unless you want to qualify John XXIII, but he provided less hippie appeal.) `Brother...' is sensual without being disrespectful and enjoyable without becoming out of context. The architecture and garments never forget that Francis came from medieval times--even if the pageantry, too, imitates a peacock's myriad of colors. Included in the story is a rather harsh rendering of ecclesiastical authority. (G.K. Chesterton, in his biography of Francis, maintains that upon their meeting, Francis was the big man and the pope was the small man, but the small man was needed. Francis restored a gospel simplicity to a church that was as damaged as the actual one he had to reassemble, but the pope had prudent points to make.) Francis's father and the local bishop bring enough conflict to provide a plot. Anyway, theology aside, there isn't much to argue about in this rendering. Besides Alec Guinness doesn't disappoint as the pope. Speaking of acting, Graham Faulkner is a dead-ringer in looks and interpretation for the troubadour of God and nature. And "Sister Moon," Claire (Judy Bowner)--if you will--is radiant, even if she seems misplaced--more like a runner-up to play Juliet. Every aspect of Francis is represented, and, although, like the rest of us, he led an episodic life, the threads are woven as seamlessly as one of his father's garments. Francis's life comes off like a glistening mosaic in movie form. Zefferelli's treatment of Francis walks on water. Never plodding nor resorting to spiritual fast food, the pace is as flawless as everything else. How they manage to use Donovan's original soundtrack and a "Gloria" that never become tongue-in-cheek or embarrassing is a miracle in itself. (Donovan was a perfect choice for exhuding the saint's simplicity.) Florid without being vapid, timely without seeming dated, 'Brother Sun and Sister Moon' is a celebration of Francis's life. Like his rendering of 'Romeo and Juliet,' `Brother Sun and Sister Moon' deserves to be a Zefferelli classic.
Movie Review: Deeply Spiritually Moved
Summary: 5 Stars
I had to laugh when I read the Amazon Editorial Review by Tom Keogh. It was the movie review from hell! His critique was like painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa! Seriously, Filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli, (Romeo and Juliet, and Jesus of Nazareth) is one of the greatest artistic masters of film I have ever seen. And you couldn't find a more perfect virtuous couple of actors than Graham Faulkner and Judi Bowker to play the roles of Saint Francis and Claire. Since childhood, Saint Francis has always been my favorite saint. Pope Gregory IX, commissioned Franciscan Friar, Thomas of Celano, to write an accurate biography of Francis. This is the principle source on Francis life. I was happy to see that the movie closely followed the historic account. A few items not covered in the film are that Francis was active in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He prayed for many that had incurable illnesses, and they were instantly healed. He had the Stigmata, which were the wounds of Jesus. His hands, feet and side bled. Once, when he was praying, there was a glow about him that was so bright, that several people rushed out with water pails because they thought there was a fire. Another occasion, he was seen giving a sermon under a tree. There were no other people present, but the tree was filled with birds, that were listening and then answering him. Francis and Claire were deeply in love. Once, he came to visit her and she was not at home. He prayed and the rose bush next to her door became completely covered with new blossoms to let her know that he came by to see her. There were also a few sad notes. Francis took a literal view of denying the flesh for the sake of the Spirit. He would beat his legs with a rock and command his body to be submitted. He slept on a stone floor with a stone for a pillow. There were hundreds of others who had become Franciscan Friars, but they could not live his type of life of suffering. He strongly protested and they took away his leadership. And he died in his mid 40s because of his renouncing the flesh. I deeply admire Francis humility, his self-sacrifice to serve others, and his adherence to the Words of Jesus Sermon on the Mount, more than almost anyone else in history. This film captured his memory in the most wonderful way! I was deeply spiritually moved by it!Movie Review: Original Innocence
Summary: 5 Stars
I caught this on AMC about five years ago and by the end of the movie I was in tears...I mean, I usually don't get too choked up over movies except for maybe Diehard and the Terminator series (just kiddin')...but this movie really touched me and moved me deeply and made me remember why I fell in Love with God.
There is a scene in the movie that speaks volumes about true humility. It's towards the end, but Francis makes a pilgrimage to see the pope in order to get permission to establish a church of his own. He and his crew are, by all appearances, a disheveled bunch, and everyone in the papal agency are beautifully ordained with all kinds of rich and luxurious robes and jewlrey and Francis appears before the pope in a tattered robe almost embarrassed by his appearance and yet the pope is moved by him and says to the effect, "We have all been so stirred up by 'original sin' that we most of us have forgotten about original innocence. Go my, son, and build your church..."
That line made me lose it because we do, we all do, we focus on sin, on guilt, on punishment and forget that in each and every moment God is giving us nothing but Love, Grace, and Peace. God is not punishing us as much as we are punishing ourselves. We created hell, the devil, and sin...God is Love and Perfect Love not only casts out fear, Perfect Love doesn't even recognize fear. How could it? Love only knows Love.
Saint Francis was probably the first Nature Lovin' Hippie. Even back then it drove the "establishment" crazy because they thought he was crazy. Everyone who becomes intoxicated with God's Love is regarded as crazy because we are in the world, but not of it, we remember that we are of God...we are of Love...we are of Light....we are of Life Itself! True Love does make us drunk, high, makes us feel Light because it stirs our soul and lets us see that everything is Love and Love is everything. It awakens us from our sleep and makes us realize with real eyes that we are born in Original Beauty, Original Magnificence, Original Innocence.
This movie will move you in so many ways. It's an absolute treasure. Be open to its magic and your life will be transformed.
Honest.
Peace & Blessings to all...
Movie Review: Divine Inspiration
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is simply a masterpiece! Over the years I have watched it countless of times and it keeps getting better after each screening. I first saw it in a theatre in Toronto when it came out in 1973 and quite a few people were leaving early. I guess they weren't prepared for such an avant-garde movie.
I cannot possibly fault this picture. To me it is beyond criticism. The spirituality of Francesco transpires with such power that it is sometimes overwhelming. The scenario is utterly brilliant. Each scene is extremely atmospheric and the pictures are sometimes stunningly beautiful. Human emotions are displayed bare for the viewers. Zeffirelli uses caricatural effects to convey his message, but he does it with extreme class. All the actors are very very good. Obviously the director did a great job of guiding each and every one to display maximum authenticity. This Francesco is an imaginary figure, but one that is totally credible.
At the beginning we see Francesco undergoing a profound transformation, one that is displayed as if it was identical to the Christ's resurrection. This is quite subtle though. You may not grasp it's significance the first time you see it. But other strong parts are less equivocal. Like when Francesco is forced to go to church where he sees the abject poverty in which people live. He revolts against this misery, for he wants everybody to be happy. And he will himself find happiness by first getting rid of his identity as the son of a rich merchant. This will give us the most powerful scene of this entire motion picture. After being dragged by his father to appear in front of the bishop, he takes all his clothes off and give them back to his father and tell him that he is no longer his father. After that, completely naked, he proceeds to walk out of town where he will start his mystical life.
The apotheoses comes at the end when Francesco, after going a period of serious doubts, requests an audience with the Pope. Alex Guinness is magnificent in his role as Innocent III. Francesco will leave Rome with a new set of wings. And there is a good chance that you will also come out of this viewing with a new set of wings!
n_hamel@videotron.ca