The Flowers of St. Francis

Original title: Francesco, giullare di Dio

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

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

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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations total

Fra' Ginapro
(as Fra' Severino Pisacane)

Roberto Sorrentino

Nazario Gerardi

San Francesco
(uncredited)

Arabella Lemaitre

Santa Chiara
(uncredited)

Renzo Rossellini

Narrator
(voice)
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The filmmakers wanted to donate something to the monks who acted in the film since they refused payment. According to Rossellini's daughter, he expected them to ask that the donation be something charitable, like setting up a soup kitchen. Instead, the monks surprised everyone by asking for fireworks. Rossellini saw to it that the town had an enormous, elaborate fireworks display that was the talk of the region for years.

Quotes
San Francesco: O Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is discord, let me bring harmony. Where there is pain, let me bring joy, and where there is despair, hope. O Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be loved as to love, and my all on earth learn the secret of your peace, which is the fruit of justice and brotherly love.

Alternate versions
The US version released in 1952 removes the Italian chapter titles and adds a prologue that had been cut from the initial Italian release.

Connections
Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: La monnaie de l'absolu (1999)

Soundtracks
Te deum laudamus

User reviews29

Review

Featured review

10/10

Neglected Masterpiece

Unfortunately, this is not an easy film to see. It is not available on video, and it is rarely if ever shown in commercial theaters, not even art houses. I was fortunate enough to see it at a local museum's Italian film series.

This film is exquisitely photographed and beautifully acted, mostly by non-professionals. It's depiction of Francis and his followers make the practice of Christianity seem almost zenlike; that is spirituality consists in being totally involved in whatever one is doing at the moment, in doing, not talking. This is such a relief from much of the pap that passes as religious film these days. See it if you can.