Les onze fioretti de François d'Assise

The Criterion DVD release of Rossellini's Flowers of St. Francis offers a fully restored version in high contrast black and white of the long unavailable 1950 film, considered one of Rossellini's finest. It is interesting that two of the finest films about religion, The Gospel According to St, Matthew and Flowers of St. Francis, were directed by avowed atheists, (Pier Paolo Pasolini and Roberto Rossellini), both capturing, through non-professional acting and neo-realist technique, a sense of purity and poetry missing in the heavy-handed message of newer religious films. Unlike Pasolini, however, Rossellini's film does not contain peak dramatic moments or even a linear narrative.

It is a series of vignettes that does not attempt a history of the period or a biography of St. Francis of Assisi as did the woeful Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Zefferelli. Rather it shows Francis, a 13th century monk who founded the order known as the Franciscan Friars and his followers (particularly brother Ginepro) in easy going and often light-hearted fashion going about their daily life with devotion and humility before God. While I do not subscribe to the idea that allegiance to God requires extreme self-denial, the film is persuasive in showing the simple compassion of the Friars and how it changed the lives of the people around them, although the line between simple and simple-minded as depicted by Rossellini is often tenuous.

Flowers does not attempt to bludgeon us with a point of view, but suggests by example that there is an alternative way to live our lives that does not involve ego and greed. The episodes illustrate different aspects of Franciscan life, all introduced by intertitles. In the first, the brothers seek to find shelter in a pouring rain in a little hut they have built in the woods near Assisi. When they arrive, they discover that a farmer has appropriated the hut with his donkey and refuses to let the brothers in. Francis responds by telling his followers, "Have we not now reason to rejoice? Providence has made us useful to others." In another episodes, Ginepro cuts off a pig's foot for a meal requested by a hungry ailing brother. Unfortunately, no one questions what brother pig thinks about his leg being sacrificed and the episode left me feeling queasy.

In other sequences, the Friars prepare a rebuilt chapel to receive Sister Chiara, Francis meets a leper during his walk and embraces him in a childlike, loving manner, and Ginepro is provided lessons on how actions rather than words win souls for God. In one of the later sequences played mostly for laughs but with a potent message, Ginepro is in danger of losing his life to a group of bandits led by the corpulent Nicolaio until the power of faith rules the day. Flowers of St. Francis presents an idealized version of a "pure" form of Christianity and promotes love, humility, and compassion for the poor. While the film is a welcome antidote to the cynicism and despair common in films these days, ultimately it leaves the viewer to decide whether or not excessive missionary zeal practiced by those who are convinced they alone have the true faith has been a positive or negative force throughout history.

"The Flowers of St. Francis" is a very unusual film. Instead of telling the life of St. Francis of Assisi in any traditional sense, the film is made up of several parables about him and his followers--stories that are most likely fictional. They are all meant to illustrate various lessons--such as humility, service and kindness. This makes the plot very episodic and somewhat disjoint. The film is also unusual, at least when seen today, because almost all the people in the film are non-actors. However, at the time, the Italian Neo-Realist movement (led by the likes of Rossellini and De Sica) stressed the extensive use of non-actors in natural settings--mostly because the country was bankrupt following WWII and had little other choice! But, what sets this apart is that the monks in the film are actually real monks! That is pretty amazing.

My enjoyment of this film was impaired, somewhat, by my having seen a recent documentary, "My Voyage to Italy". In it, Martin Scorsese discusses many of his favorite films. However, instead of just explaining what he likes in them or how they influenced him as a director, Scorsese goes on to explain the plots as well as the endings of many of these films! So, because he provided so many spoilers for "The Flowers of St. Francis", I didn't get nearly as much out of the film as I might have.

So is it worth your seeing it? Of course. The biggest reason is that these non-actors gave some amazing performances and the film is very artistic. It also is far less heavy-handed than most religious films. While I still would have preferred seeing the life story of St. Francis, I still did appreciate the work that went into making this lovely film. Additionally, its message of spirituality over religiosity is timeless and inspiring.

This is an enjoyable adaptation about Saint Francis (1182-1226) by Roberto Rosselini. Set in 13th century and depicting various episodes about his existence , these are the followings : 1) How Fray Junipero appears naked after give out his soutane to a poor 2 )How the old John abandons his family , follows and imitates St. Francis 3)Concerning the marvelous encounter between St Clare and St Francis 4)How Fray Junipero cut a pig's foot and gave it a sick person 5)How St Francis found a leper into the night 6) How Fray Junipero was condemned to death but his humility vanquished tyrant Nicolas (Aldo Fabrizi) 7) How St Francis and Father Lion experimented the perfect mirth 8) How St Francis came out from St. Mary of Angels to evangelize for around the world .

The motion picture is an agreeable portrayal on known Saint well played by Pino Locci and secondary intervention by Aldo Fabrizi as an armored villain in the best chapter . The roles of St. Francis and his disciples were played by monks from the Nocere Inferiore monastery . Rather than shooting on stage, they shot on locations and quite often used non professional actors. Most of the performers in the film, with exception of Aldo Fabrizi, are real Franciscian monks . "The Flowers of St. Francis" was edited for its 1952 US release, with Rossellini's chapter-like inter titles and a couple of scenes removed from the original Italian version . Evocative black and white cinematography by Otello Martelli and atmospheric musical score by Renzo Rosselini. Interesting screenplay by Rosselini , Brunello Rondi and participated the prestigious Federico Fellini . The picture is original and imaginatively directed by Roberto Rosselini who was one of a group of pioneering film makers of the neo-realist era . An excellent film-making for sympathy , simple way and brief touches of humor.

The film retrieves partially deeds about his life . The real events are the followings : Francis was son of a wealthy merchant , but he leaves his lush existence and he dedicates to help unfortunates , hapless and poor people . He suffers starvation , famine, and is taken prisoner during war among Italian cities , Perugia , Venice and Assis . Francis founds the Franciscan Order of monks , approved by Pope Innocence III (1210) and receiving his blessing . He's followed by St Clare as devote disciple , founding the Clarisan order of nuns (1212) . Francesco imposes a rigid rules of life and his thoughts were included in ¨Singing to brother sun or the Creatures¨ where he praises the poverty , joy and nature love and ¨The flowers of St. Francis¨ .

Other versions about the most famous Saint are : Hollywood version titled ¨Francis of Assisi¨ (60) by Michael Curtiz with Stuart Withman and Dolores Hart ; two rendition by Liliana Cavani , starred by Lou Castel and ¨Francesco¨ (1989) with Mickey Rourke and Helena Bonham Carter . And Franco Zeffireli version (1973) titled ¨Brother sun, Brither moon¨ with Alec Guinness, Judi Bowker and William Faulkner.

The film consists of several short vignettes depicting various encounters and occurrences involving the 13th century monk Francis of Assisi, as well as his small group of followers who would go on to become the Franciscan Order. Dedicated to lives of poverty and piety, they struggle to survive while searching for the good in all things. As well as focusing on Francis (Nazario Gerardi), much time is spent on Brother Juniper/Ginapro (Severino Pisacane), known as the "Jester of God", a good-hearted but simple-minded follower of Francis.

Rossellini's Neo-Realist sensibilities continue with his casting of real Franciscan monks to play Francis and his followers. In fact, the only professional actor involved was Fabrizi, playing a vicious warlord. The script, co-written by Rossellini and Federico Fellini with some later input by a pair of Catholic priests, contains a lot of humor. The movie is both pious and light-hearted, and it rarely if ever feels like it is preaching. It's also not a traditional biopic of St. Francis, as one might expect, but rather it seeks to illuminate the man through his works and interactions with others. The film also evokes its time period well, with none of the Hollywood glamorization one usually finds with historical pieces.

The comment about the film having 'not much depth' is absurd. I have rarely been moved to tears in a film but this one did it for me. Among all the absurdities, it captures some quite unique moments of meditation between Francis and God that we, the audience are very privileged to witness. The leper scene...beautiful moment of compassion, completely blew me away. The film cuts no corners and portrays rather blatantly the fact that NOBODY, not even St Francis is or was perfect, we're all foolish from time to time and must undergo humility to progress in the eyes of God. The fact is, saints like Francis and others lead a bleak existence, they lived hardcore lives and the rawness of this film captures that beautifully. The Mickey Rourke film is for those who see through a glass darkly.