The Flowers of St. Francis (1950)

A series of vignettes depicting the lives of the original Franciscan monks, including their leader and the bumbling Ginepro.

Director:

Roberto Rossellini

Writers:

Roberto Rossellini (story), Federico Fellini (screenplay collaborator)

Stars:

Aldo Fabrizi, Gianfranco Bellini, Peparuolo

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Aldo Fabrizi	...	Nicolaio, il tiranno di Viterbo
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gianfranco Bellini	...	Narrator (voice)
Peparuolo	...	Giovanni il Sempliciotto
Severino Pisacane	...	Fra' Ginapro (as Fra' Severino Pisacane)
Roberto Sorrentino

Storyline

The film dramatizes about a dozen vignettes from the life of St. Francis and his early followers - starting with their return in the rain to Rivotorlo from Rome when the Pope blessed their Rule and ending with their dispersal to preach. The unconnected chapters are like parables, some with a moral. The slight and comic Ginepro returns naked to St. Mary's of the Angels, having given away his tunic, but not his ricotta. The aged Giovanni shouts and holds onto his cape; the beatific St. Clair pays a visit. Humble Francis doubts his leadership, hugs a leper, and sends his brothers spinning, dizzy, and smiling into the world. This brotherhood is infused with whimsy as well as belief.

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Plot Keywords:

saint francis of assisi | franciscan | franciscan monk | facepalm | roman catholicism | 

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Taglines:

A Movie for Today...And All Time

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

6 October 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Francisco, juglar de Dios

Filming Locations:

Sovana, Sorano, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,223

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineriz, Rizzoli Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Roberto Rossellini and 'Ingrid Bergman' were involved in an highly publicized and strongly condemned love affair during the making of this film and Bergman was pregnant with Rosselini's child while married to another man. These circumstances in Rosselini's personal life made the shoot more difficult.

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Quotes

San Francesco: I command you, out of holy obedience, to spin around where you stand the way children do at play, and don't stop spinning until you're dizzy.

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Alternate Versions

The US version released in 1952 removes the Italian chapter titles. It also adds a prologue cut from the initial Italian release.

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Connections

Featured in My Voyage to Italy (1999)

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Soundtracks

Te deum laudamus

User Reviews

Deep and beautiful

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.