The Flowers of St Francis - Criterion Collection (1952)

In a series of simple and joyous vignettes, director Roberto Rossellini and co-writer Federico Fellini lovingly convey the universal teachings#of humility, compassion, faith, and sacrifice#of the People#s Saint. Shot in a neorealist manner, with monks from the Nocere Inferiore monastery playing the roles of St. Francis and his disciples, The Flowers of St. Francis is a timeless and moving portrait of the search for spiritual enlightenment.

Both funny and quietly touching

Rossellini's Francesco, Guillare di Dio/Francis, God's Jester (aka The Flowers of St francis) is less political than Pasolini's Gospel According to St. Matthew, but it's still possible to see it as one of its antecedents with its use of amateur actors and avoidance of studio work. Its anecdotal narrative doesn't always work (the sequence with the tyrant is amusing but too broadly played, for example), but it does build up a picture of an alternative, more open-spirited approach to religious devotion more in tune with nature than scripture, and the ending is both funny and quietly touching, as Francesco's followers spin round and round in circles until dizzy to find which path God wants them to follow. December 6, 2007

An authentic portrayal

Rossellini is an extraordinary director (for a good introduction to his work see M. Scorsese's, My Voyage to Italy) His treatment of St.Francis is unlike any other screen version I have seen, and in my view, irreplaceable.It is based on "I Fioretti" very early collection of stories that grew up among the first followers and is really more about the effect Francis had on them than it is a "biography" of the saint. It that way it is more like a "gospel," an excited, almost unbelievable, account of how he changed people's lives. It is not the place to go to get the basic facts, but if you want to get right to the "truth" of this person who changed western culture fundamentally, then this might well be the place to go. For a very effective contemporary retelling of some the Fioretti stories, try Murray Bodo's Tales of St. Francis.The film is also a great display of Rossellini's revolutionary cinematic realism. A real classic. Enjoy!
P.S. after writing this I read the other reviews. They make clear the range of possible reaction both on the human level and the artistic. I don't have any quarrel with (almost) any of them. I would just say that there is a great deal going on here regarding both the person and film, so if you are just getting acquainted with either aspect, look around a bit before making up your mind for yourself. November 15, 2007

another fine criterion release

i love the story of st francis.. This is a fine black and white movie - one of Rossellini's better films of the period.. While it is not quite as powerful as 'Open City' it is a very important movie and deserves to be seen.. January 28, 2007

Historically Interesting But Only Mildly Entertaining

Let me start by saying that I came to this DVD as someone who wanted to see a Roberto Rossellini film, not as someone who was avid to see another story of St. Francis. While I have nothing against films of a religious nature, I tend to be drawn to more controversial and less pious works.

Having seen "The Flowers of St. Francis," however, I do not feel as if I have any more insight into St. Francis's legacy than I did prior to the viewing. The film is structured as a series of vignettes--mostly sweet, idyllic, naive and/or comical. This was not a conventional narrative, so the entertainment that you derive from the film comes from how much you appreciate these stories. I found them innocuous enough, a couple were amusing--but ultimately I wished for more illumination.

Having studied Rossellini's intent behind "Flowers," I know it was a personal film for him. He wanted to show glimpses of St. Francis and hint at the appeal and ardor that his followers had. He consciously chose this narrative style to make simple "Franciscan" teaching moments. He was happy with the outcome, and that's why it's important in Rossellini's film oeuvre.

While the film might not be my cup of tea entertainment-wise, it is interesting to fit it into Rossellini's filmography--both as a personal statement and as an evolution of his style. I'll still take "Open City" anyday, but I don't dismiss "Flowers." KGHarris, 10/06.
October 15, 2006

Unbelievable, in the worse sense of the word

This movie is a disaster.

It does not cover the conversion of St. Francis, since it begins after the Pope has allowed him to found the order. It does not present what his principles were, other than to care for the poor. Poverty (his own) and simplicity are barely present, and then handled badly with unseemly inconsistencies. At one point, Francis even praises his own humility. That's not very humble as far as I'm concerned.

It would seem that Francis was actually quite an inspiration to his brethren, but in this film he is a stern, distant, unfeeling father figure. He gives commands which are frequently disobeyed without any remorse. Even though Francis himself is reputed to have run through the streets stark naked to show his disassociation from the material world, he is appalled at one of the brothers who gives away his cloak to the poor and returns shirtless.

Many films portray Jesus as a relatively distant person, withdrawn, often emotion-less and passive. Francis gets this kind of portrayal in this film. In fact, the only character to which one can relate is Brother Ginepro (forgive spelling please). The final scene emphasizes the treatment of Francis as Jesus in an over-obvious and almost silly allegory for "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" which in the Gospels was followed by Jesus' ascension. In reality, Francis knew he was a flawed, repentant sinner, saved by God's grace into a life of simple happiness and good works, not an error-free Christ-figure.

The setting is not redeeming. The brothers live in little stone huts, from which they emerge only on certain occasions, acting much like a bunch of chicks in a chicken yard. Though the Church calls the order "beggars", these beggars are more persistent and more obnoxious than any present-day street beggars. They seldom have anything to give to the poor, so they go out and badger reticent donors and then give only some of their receipts to the poor. Very much NOT what St. Francis was about.

The scene with the tyrant appears to have been dropped in from some other movie, and its point is far from clear. It is not at all apparent what it has to do with St. Francis and his teachings.

Though not a five-star movie in itself, Brother Sun, Sister Moon is a much better production than this. By comparison it is marvelous.

September 23, 2006

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