Francesco, giullare di Dio (1950)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Roberto Rossellini

Writers:

Federico Fellini (screenplay)
Father Antonio Lisandrini (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 October 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The film dramatizes about a dozen vignettes from the life of St. Francis and his early followers - starting...

Plot Keywords:

Rain | Barbarian | Nun | Saint | Cross

Cast

Gianfranco Bellini	...	Narrator (voice)
Aldo Fabrizi	...	Nicolaio, il tiranno di Viterbo
Peparuolo	...	Giovanni il Sempliciotto
Fra' Severino Pisacane	...	Fra' Ginapro
Roberto Sorrentino

Also Known As:

Francis, God's Jester
The Flowers of St. Francis (USA)

Runtime:

75 min | Canada:83 min | West Germany:85 min (TV)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric)

Certification:

UK:PG (video rating) (2005) | UK:U (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Manziana, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Cineriz

Trivia:

The one who was called "Jester of the Lord" was Brother Juniper, Francis's disciple, not Francis himself as the Italian title erroneously indicates.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Notes on My Father: An Interview with Isabella Rossellini (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Te deum laudamus

Religious movie about St Francis proceed in simplicity and realism

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 following: 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 all 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. 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.An excellent film-making for sympathy, simple way and brief touches of humor.

The film retrieves partial deeds about his life . The real events are the following : Francis was son of a wealthy merchant, but he leaves his lush existence and he dedicates to help unfortunates, hapless and poor. 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.

Another 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.