The Flowers of St. Francis

Last updated
Francesco, giullare di Dio
Flowerfrancisposter.jpg
Directed by Roberto Rossellini
Written by
Produced by Angelo Rizzoli
Cinematography Otello Martelli
Edited by Jolanda Benvenuti
Music by
Distributed by Joseph Burstyn Inc. (US)
Release date
  • 14 December 1950 (1950-12-14)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryItaly
LanguageItalian

The Flowers of St. Francis (in Italian, Francesco, giullare di Dio, or "Francis, God's Jester") is a 1950 film directed by Roberto Rossellini and co-written by Federico Fellini. The film is based on two books, the 14th-century novel Fioretti di San Francesco (Little Flowers of St. Francis) and La Vita di Frate Ginepro (The Life of Brother Juniper), both of which relate the life and work of St. Francis and the early Franciscans. I Fioretti is composed of 78 small chapters. The novel as a whole is less biographical and instead focuses on relating tales of the life of St. Francis and his followers. The movie follows the same premise, though rather than relating all 78 chapters, it focuses instead on nine of them. Each chapter is composed in the style of a parable and, like parables, contains a moral theme. Every new scene transitions with a chapter marker, a device that directly relates the film to the novel. On October 6, 1952, when the movie debuted in America, where the novel was much less known, the chapter markers were removed.

Contents

Brother Nazario Gerardi as St. Francis of Assisi Nazario Gerardi as St. Francis in Francesco, giullare di Dio 2.jpg
Brother Nazario Gerardi as St. Francis of Assisi

Included in the acting cast is Gianfranco Bellini as the narrator, who has voice-dubbed several American films for the Italian cinema.[ citation needed ] Monks from the Nocere Inferiore Monastery played the roles of St. Francis and the friars.[ citation needed ] Playing the role of St. Francis is a Franciscan brother who is not credited, Brother Nazario Gerardi.[ citation needed ] The only professional actor in the film is the prominent Aldo Fabrizi, who had worked with Rossellini before, notably in the neorealistic film Rome, Open City .[ citation needed ] The film garnered international acclaim for Fabrizi.[ citation needed ] He began his film career scene in 1942 and is noted for both writing and directing his own vehicles. In this film, Fabrizi plays the role of Nicolaio, the tyrant of Viterbo.[ citation needed ]

Rossellini had a strong interest in Christian values in the contemporary world. [1] Though he was not a practicing Catholic, Rossellini loved the Church's ethical teaching and was enchanted by religious sentiment—things that were neglected in the materialistic world. [1] This interest helped to inspire the making of the film. [1] He also employed two priests to work on it with him, Félix A. Morlion O.P., and Antonio Lisandri O.F.M. [1] Though the priests contributed little to the script, their presence within the movie gave a feel of respectability with regard to theology. [1] Morlion vigorously defended Catholic foundations within Italian neorealism and felt that Rossellini's work, and eventually scriptwriter Fellini's, best captured this foundation. [1]

Chapters

The movie begins by portraying the Franciscan friars trudging through the rain to their hut, only to find it occupied by a peasant and his donkey. The man accuses the Franciscans of being thieves and drives them out, but the friars see this as a sign to follow the footsteps of St. Francis.

The film is divided into nine chapters, each depicting a significant incident in St. Francis' life after his vocation. These chapters are introduced by a parable and a chapter marker.

In the first chapter, Brother Ginepro returns to St. Mary of the Angels naked after giving away his habit to a beggar. St. Francis gently admonishes him for his naive generosity.

The second chapter focuses on Giovanni, known as "the Simpleton," who asks to follow Francis and begins imitating him in word and gesture. Despite some obstacles, Giovanni is welcomed as a fellow Franciscan.

The third chapter portrays the wonderful meeting between St. Clare and St. Francis at St. Mary of the Angels. They share a holy dinner together, and their conversation is described as igniting the sky with fire.

In the fourth chapter, Brother Ginepro cuts off a pig's foot to make a stew for a sick brother. However, he unwittingly angers a peasant and must apologize. The peasant later returns with the rest of the pig as a gesture of reconciliation.

The fifth chapter depicts Francis praying in the woods when he encounters a leper. Despite the leper's attempts to keep his distance, Francis kisses and adores him, praising God for the encounter.

In the sixth chapter, Brother Ginepro cooks enough food for two weeks, impressing Francis with his zeal. As a result, Francis grants Ginepro permission to preach, instructing him to begin each sermon with the words, "I talk and talk yet I accomplish little."

The seventh chapter focuses on Brother Ginepro as he travels and attempts to preach. He is judged on the gallows by the tyrant Nicolaio but demonstrates humility that eventually convinces Nicolaio to spare him.

The eighth chapter presents a famous parable where Francis and Brother Leone discuss what brings perfect happiness. After considering various scenarios, Francis explains that perfect happiness lies in suffering and bearing every evil deed out of love for Christ.

In the final chapter, Francis and his friars leave St. Mary of the Angels to spread the message of the Gospel. They give away their possessions, pray together, and then set off in different directions to preach peace.

Cast

Production

Rossellini had been working on a film about St. Francis for years and he later called this film his favorite of his own works. [2] Rossellini and Federico Fellini wrote a treatment of the film that was 28 pages long and contained only 71 lines of dialogue. It was partially inspired by such St. Francis legends as the Fioretti and Life of Brother Ginepro. Rossellini said that it was not intended to be a bio-pic, but would focus on one specific aspect of St. Francis's personality: his whimsy. Rossellini described this aspect of St. Francis as "The Jester of God." [3] The film was a series of episodes from St. Francis's life and contained no plot or character development. Rossellini received funding from Angelo Rizzoli and from the Vatican to make the film. [3] He cast the same Franciscan monks who had appeared in his earlier film Paisà . [2] All of the other actors were also non-professionals, except for Aldo Fabrizi. [4]

Filming began on January 17, 1950 [2] in the Italian countryside between Rome and Bracciano. Fellini was not present during the shooting and Rossellini depended on help with the films dialogue from Brunello Rondi and Father Alberto Maisano. [4] During the shooting Rossellini's and Ingrid Bergman's son Renato was born on February 2, 1950, although he was not officially divorced until February 9. [5] The film extras brought ricotta to the newborn baby during the production. [6]

Release and reception

The film premiered at the 1950 Venice Film Festival, where it was screened before a packed audience and often applauded in the middle of certain scenes. However, critics gave the film mostly poor reviews. Guido Aristarco said that it displayed a formalist and false reality. [7] Pierre Laprohon said that "its most obvious fault is its lack of realism." [8] Years after its release, Marcel Oms called it a "monument of stupidity." [9] However, The New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther praised it. On its initial release, the movie earned less than $13,000 in Italy. [10]

Pier Paolo Pasolini said that it was "among the most beautiful in Italian cinema" and Andrew Sarris ranked it eighth on his ten-best film list. François Truffaut called it "the most beautiful film in the world." [9]

Although somewhat poorly received at the time, the film is now recognized as a classic of world cinema. It has been released on DVD by The Criterion Collection [11] and Masters of Cinema.

In 1995, the Vatican listed the film as one of the forty-five greatest films ever made. [12] In July 2021, the film was shown in the Cannes Classics section at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis of Assisi</span> Italian Catholic saint (c. 1181–1226)

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italian mystic, poet and Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. He was inspired to lead a Christian life of poverty as a beggar and itinerant preacher. One of the most venerated figures in Christianity, Francis was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on 16 July 1228. He is commonly portrayed wearing a brown habit with a rope tied around his waist, featuring three knots that symbolize the three Franciscan vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federico Fellini</span> Italian filmmaker (1920–1993)

Federico Fellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He is known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. His films have ranked highly in critical polls such as that of Cahiers du Cinéma and Sight & Sound, which lists his 1963 film 8+1⁄2 as the 10th-greatest film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roberto Rossellini</span> Italian film director (1906–1977)

Roberto Gastone Zeffiro Rossellini was an Italian film director, screenwriter and producer. He was one of the most prominent directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing to the movement with films such as Rome, Open City (1945), Paisan (1946), and Germany, Year Zero (1948). He is also known for his films starring Ingrid Bergman, Stromboli (1950), Europe '51 (1952), Journey to Italy (1954), Fear (1954), and Joan of Arc at the Stake (1954).

<i>Amarcord</i> 1973 film by Federico Fellini

Amarcord is a 1973 comedy-drama film directed by Federico Fellini, a semi-autobiographical tale about Titta, an adolescent boy growing up among an eccentric cast of characters in the village of Borgo San Giuliano in 1930s Fascist Italy. The film's title is a univerbation of the Romagnol phrase a m'arcôrd. The title then became a neologism of the Italian language, with the meaning of "nostalgic revocation". The central role of Titta is based on Fellini's childhood friend from Rimini, Luigi Titta Benzi. Benzi became a lawyer and remained in close contact with Fellini throughout his life.

<i>Rome, Open City</i> 1945 Italian war drama film

Rome, Open City, also released as Open City, is a 1945 Italian neorealist war drama film directed by Roberto Rossellini and co-written by Sergio Amidei, Celeste Negarville and Federico Fellini. Set in Rome in 1944, the film follows a diverse group of characters coping under the Nazi occupation, and centers on a Resistance fighter trying to escape the city with the help of a Catholic priest. The title refers to the status of Rome as an open city following its declaration as such on 14 August 1943. The film is the first in Rosselini's "Neorealist Trilogy", followed by Paisan (1946) and Germany, Year Zero (1948).

<i>My Voyage to Italy</i> 1999 film directed by Martin Scorsese

My Voyage to Italy is a personal documentary by acclaimed Italian-American director Martin Scorsese. The film is a voyage through Italian cinema history, marking influential films for Scorsese and particularly covering the Italian neorealism period.

<i>La Strada</i> 1954 Italian drama film directed by Federico Fellini

La strada is a 1954 Italian drama film directed by Federico Fellini and co-written by Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Flaiano. The film tells the story of Gelsomina, a simple-minded young woman bought from her mother by Zampanò, a brutish strongman who takes her with him on the road.

<i>I Vitelloni</i> 1953 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Federico Fellini

I vitelloni is a 1953 Italian comedy drama film directed by Federico Fellini from a screenplay written by himself, Ennio Flaiano and Tullio Pinelli. It stars Franco Interlenghi, Alberto Sordi, Franco Fabrizi, Leopoldo Trieste, and Riccardo Fellini as five young Italian men at crucial turning points in their small town lives. Recognized as a pivotal work in the director's artistic evolution, the film has distinct autobiographical elements that mirror important societal changes in 1950s Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juniper (friar)</span> Early Friar Minor and follower of St. Francis of Assisi

Juniper, also known as Brother Juniper, called "the renowned jester of the Lord", was one of the original followers of Francis of Assisi. Not much is known about Juniper before he joined the friars. In 1210, he was received into the Order of Friars Minor by Francis himself. "Would to God, my brothers, that I had a whole forest of such Junipers," Francis would delightfully pun.

<i>Little Flowers of St. Francis</i>

The Little Flowers of St. Francis is a florilegium, divided into 53 short chapters, on the life of Saint Francis of Assisi that was composed at the end of the 14th century. The anonymous Italian text, almost certainly by a Tuscan author, is a version of the Latin Actus beati Francisci et sociorum eius, of which the earliest extant manuscript is one of 1390 AD. Luke Wadding ascribes the text to Ugolino da Santa Maria, whose name occurs three times in the Actus. Most scholars are now agreed that the author was Ugolino Brunforte.

<i>Paisan</i> 1946 film by Roberto Rossellini

Paisan is a 1946 Italian neorealist war drama film directed by Roberto Rossellini. In six independent episodes, it tells of the Liberation of Italy by the Allied forces during the late stage of World War II. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and received numerous national and international prizes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldo Fabrizi</span> Italian actor, director

Aldo Fabrizi was an Italian actor, director, screenwriter and comedian, best known for the role of the heroic priest in Roberto Rossellini's Rome, Open City and as partner of Totò in a number of successful comedies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giovanna Ralli</span> Italian actress

Giovanna Ralli,, is an Italian stage, film and television actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franco Fabrizi</span> Italian actor

Franco Fabrizi was an Italian actor.

<i>Cops and Robbers</i> (1951 film) 1951 Italian film

Cops and Robbers is a 1951 Italian cult comedy film directed by Steno and Mario Monicelli. It stars the famous comedian Totò, and the cinematographer was the future film director Mario Bava. It was produced by Dino De Laurentiis and Carlo Ponti.

<i>Journey to Italy</i> 1954 film

Journey to Italy, also known as Voyage to Italy, is a 1954 drama film directed by Roberto Rossellini. Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders play Katherine and Alex Joyce, a childless English married couple on a trip to Italy whose marriage is on the point of collapse until they are miraculously reconciled. The film was written by Rossellini and Vitaliano Brancati, but is loosely based on the 1934 novel Duo by Colette. Although the film was an Italian production, its dialogue was in English. The first theatrical release was in Italy under the title Viaggio in Italia; the dialogue had been dubbed into Italian.

<i>Celluloide</i> 1996 Italian film

Celluloide is a 1996 Italian historical drama film directed by Carlo Lizzani from a screenplay by Furio Scarpelli, Ugo Pirro and Lizzani, based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Pirro. It stars Giancarlo Giannini, Massimo Ghini, Anna Falchi, and Lina Sastri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunello Rondi</span> Italian film director and screenwriter

Brunello Rondi was an Italian screenwriter and film director, best known for his frequent script collaborations with Federico Fellini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">100 film italiani da salvare</span> List of the best 100 Italian films

The list of the 100 Italian films to be saved was created with the aim to report "100 films that have changed the collective memory of the country between 1942 and 1978". Film preservation, or film restoration, describes a series of ongoing efforts among film historians, archivists, museums, cinematheques, and non-profit organizations to rescue decaying film stock and preserve the images they contain. In the widest sense, preservation assures that a movie will continue to exist in as close to its original form as possible.

Rod E. Geiger (1915–2000) was an American movie producer and director, Instrumental for his contributions to Italian Neorealism, working with Federico Fellini and Roberto Rossellini. Credited in the book "The Adventures of Roberto Rossellini, by Tag Gallagher" as the man who more than any single individual was to make Rossellini and the new Italian cinema famous around the world. He was also known for his marriage to Katja of Sweden, a Swedish fashion designer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bondanella, Peter. The Films of Roberto Rossellini. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991. 16-17. Print.
  2. 1 2 3 Gallagher, Tag. The Adventures of Roberto Rossellini. New York: Da Capo Press. 1998. ISBN   0-306-80873-0. pp. 340.
  3. 1 2 Gallagher. pp. 341.
  4. 1 2 Gallagher. pp. 342.
  5. ↑ Gallagher. pp. 345.
  6. ↑ Gallagher. pp. 346.
  7. ↑ Gallagher. pp. 353.
  8. ↑ Gallagher. pp. 354.
  9. 1 2 Gallagher. pp. 355.
  10. ↑ Gallagher. pp. 356.
  11. ↑ "The Flowers of St. Francis". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  12. ↑ Steven D. Greydanus. "The Vatican Film List". Decent Films. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "2021 Cannes Classics Lineup Includes Orson Welles, Powell and Pressburger, Tilda Swinton & More". The Film Stage. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.