Francesco, giullare di Dio (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

1 nomination.

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

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

The roles of St. Francis and his disciples were played by monks from the Nocere Inferiore monastery.

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Quotes

San Francesco: Hail, daughter and handmaid of our Heavenly Father, mother of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, and spouse of the Holy Spirit.

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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 Fejezetek a film történetéböl: A neorealizmus (1990)

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Soundtracks

Te deum laudamus

User Reviews

The most unrigid religious movie ever

Most religious films are somber affairs, made by religious men. So Francesco, giullare di Dio is an odd religious movie. It lacks any readings from scripture, or even any quotation. It's made by Rossellini, and the title means "Francis, Jester Of God." It's a long long way from here to Diary Of A Country Priest.

We've had St. Francis movies, of course. Most (in)famous is Zeffirelli's Brother Sun, Sister Moon: St. Francis as hippie. But this was the best. It was shot more or less on location, in the Italian countryside. It stars non-professionals (of course; Rossellini was a neo-realist). Fortunately, it stars a bunch of monks as...a bunch of monks following St. Francis.

In a brisk 75 minutes, Rossellini sketches a bunch of events: St. Francis meeting a leper, a cook learning why actions win souls, not words, etc. There's little music, and, oddly, not really much time spent with St. Francis himself. He's a side character; the thing of real interest is the daily lives and lessons of the monks.

At the end, Francis sends the monks off on their own to preach. They spin in circles, fall down, and wherever their head points, that's where they go. Religion is a journey, not an urgent reason to convert others. This supremely generous and uninsistent film is surely one of the best religious films ever made, full of nature and joy.