User reviews

Ten is usually not an easy score to give. However, this is probably one of the best Christian/Catholic/Orthodox films ever made. The cinematography is stunning and creative. The director was not afraid to take chances. This film shows the humanity of a saint joined perfectly with his spirituality. Some of the other comments I read here seem to form opinions based their presuppositions about Francesco. Heroes are characters that we easily put on a pedestal and even mystify. This is the story of a man who sets his hand to the plow and does not look back. Through interior storms and exterior thunderings he holds fast. Faithfulness is expressed in a journey. The characters fit their roles well. The acting is superb. Definitely not an American film. Refreshing!

(I am from Romania so please excuse my English) I read a book about life of Saint Francisc, a book that was written by a Saint, but the movie was different. The movie is very romantic, very charming, i love so much Michele Soavi's style, and of course the great talent of Raoul Bouva, in my opinion he is one of the greatest actors from all times, sometimes I think he is the greatest. I love the music, like a friend of mine said, only for the music, this film had to take 5 Oscars. I am so sorry that only few people saw this movie, it is relatively unknown. But for me, if it is not the great movie, at any rate, it is one of the greatest film ever made. I want to thank God and Saint Francisc for inspiring this fellows who made this movie, and of course I want to thank Michele Soavi, Raoul Bouva, and the crew, because they made me cry with joy.

An interesting film about a special hero of faith. Beautiful, subtle, pleasant. But, in same time, very strange. At first, for the carnal Francis propose by director. For me, the perfect image of "The Second Crist" is the Giotto's fresco. Then, for the original spirit of acting, pragmatic, powerful and shallow. In final, for the humanization of a sacred symbol because Francis of Assisi is not only a saint of a religion, patron of animals, Italy or environment, venerated in Romano Catholicism, founder of "Friars Minor" but one of most important builders of European values.

His life is part of a huge adventure to discover the roots of faith and the essence of Christianism. His "Canticum Fratris Solis", his Regula, his sacrifice and his conversion, stories from "Fioretti di San Francesco" are in same measure important in West and in East. The gestures, answers or prays are same in Orthodox Church, with same sense. The cross of San Damiano remains like fundamental sign of responsibility's forms. And, more important, Francis is model for every desire, hope and fight who compose our life.

In conclusion, a good film. Not remarkable, not poetic, splendid or heroic. But touching and kindly, decent and subtle. In fact, may be a film about Poverello a failure?

a film about faith. about a saint. about confession of the truth. the inner truth. and each of this fact did it a film without reviews. because each Catholic believer has his Francesco. out of words - except the prays, out of obvious images because he is the result of so many. and it is simple to define this film as a decent adaptation of the life of Il Poverello. Raoul Bova did a beautiful job. the atmosphere reminds the Giotto canon about the circle of the life of saint. the desire of realism has the gift to give a coherent story . not surprises, not innovations, not poetry from the other portraits of Francesco in cinema. only a correct work. maybe, to carnal. but this is far to be a sin.