Don't listen to the negative reviews

A Disappointing Continuation

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

If you want to know more about life, war, religion, the church, God, St. Francis, love, parents, children, devotion, humanitarian care, community living, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, etc. ad absurdum... then absolutely this is a VERY good film to incorporate into your reservoir of learning experiences. For me, the thing which most stood out was what it reveals about the spirit of man (or God - as you will) in relationship to the Roman Catholic church, in terms of teaching and inspiring I feel that is its greatest contribution; but there are very many other great things about the film... at least a dozen probably, and that is all before even getting to the superb qualities of overall direction, costumes, sets, acting, music, experimentation of techniques, SCRIPT WRITING!! ...etc. etc. etc. O.K. No more holding back, I really liked it.

This movie is so visually beautiful, to me, it is the whole point. What a ravishing cinematic recreation of early to late medieval design,a perfect surface! Watching it is like being transported inside a Ravenna mosaic,or into a painting by Sassetta come to life. If you love all eras of Medieval art you will love this film. In the beginning when Francesco returns home ill, there are wonderfully evocative sick room scenes where a white delicate cloth is being draped and pressed into the young man's face and head, giving a Shroud of Turin like reference.In the later scenes in Rome the hairstyles of some of the Pope's clerical retinue appear to have been lifted directly from a late antique/Early Christian manuscript.This seemingly superficial detail is eerily authentic and reveals the mixture of the ancient and modern existing within the medieval Christian culture of Francesco's time. I am not surprised to see some of the negative reviews when this film first came out, since the hippie movement was so on the wane and had all but disappeared, save for a few burnt out flower children. Critics probably wanted to quickly bury any and all references to them, finally and for good. Nobody likes to be vulnerable and innocent it seems, for long.

Good acting, some nice cinematography, all in all good considering it an old film but I must say it was way too spoonfeeding for my tastes and a lot of the life of St Francis was left out. This is the same director that shot Jesus of Nazareth, the Monthy Python boys could easily have spoofed this as they did with that due to this very spoonfeeding I am on about. I think I much preferred the movie "Francesco" with Mickey Rourke, although not even that made me feel as engulfed as the book I read about the man and saint, definitely one of my favorites. St Francis was a downright rebel, this is not documented well enough here and when they dare to I must say there are some cheesy and unconvincing moments. Another thing to point out and i am glad they don't do it anymore is when you get them Italian characters being played out in the cleanest English. Now don't get me wrong the man and his story are so great that even this version is worth a watch. There is a lovely part about the stones. Oh and the music to this film is truly special and adequately most poetic.

"Brother Sun, Sister Moon" is as refreshing today as it was when it was first released in 1972! In our rather cynical world of today, when it seems that the only fare available on the big screen contains an overabundance of violence, brashness and materialism; it is still a joy to behold this bright, outstanding and enlightening montage of Franco Zeffirelli's homage to St. Francis of Assisi. With beautiful, colorful cinematography of the Umbrian and Tuscan country sides; augmented by fine performances and skillful scenarios, this production is a wondrous blend which totally celebrates the life of a mystical man who revered the Creator through nature. Graham Faulkner's portrayal of St. Francis is sensitive and moving; running the gamut from madness to spiritual ecstasy to the realization of the virtues of simplicity. The young actor's sterling performance is one which will always be remembered through this film. All of the supporting players turn in credible performances; especially Judi Bowker, Valentina Cortese, Kenneth Cranham, Michael Feast, Leigh Lawson and of course, Sir Alec Guinness. This film was produced during an era when some Biblical stories were explored and exhibited as flower child scenarios on the stage and on the screen. In St. Francis' time, there were many troubadours who roamed throughout Europe as the only musical entertainment for the populace. Donovan's songs in the American version of the film are reminiscent of the Flower Child/Hippie troubadours of the 1960's and the 1970's; with lyrics that are beautifully melded, in some instances, with actual words of the First Franciscan; so what better music would be so perfectly representative of the Peace and Love which St. Francis practiced? Donovan's lyrics are not used in the Italian version of the film; rather, the lilting original score was created by Riz Ortolani and it works just as well. Ortolani's score weaves in and out of the American version with Donovan's songs and the complete Italian version is available on CD. My only regret about the production is the fact that Donovan's memorable songs in this film were never released in an audio soundtrack recording. I would certainly like to have a CD of the Donovan score to play in my automobile, if only to create a sense of serenity while driving in the rude and mean-spirited traffic of Los Angeles! Even though it is a bit dated in its flower child style, this film remains a truly inspiring and enlightening cinema masterpiece; a celebration of youthful, original innocence.