The Flowers of St. Francis

The Flowers of St. Francis is a black-and-white Italian movie, directed by Roberto Rossellini in 1950. The film is a biographical account of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, widely regarded as one of the most influential saints and religious leaders in history.

The movie is set in the thirteenth century in Assisi, Italy, and follows the adventures of St. Francis (Aldo Fabrizi) and his followers—including Fra Leone (Gianfranco Bellini), Fra Martino (Peparuolo), and others—as they travel around preaching their message of love, humility, and compassion to the people.

The movie is divided into a series of vignettes, each of which tells a different story of St. Francis and his disciples as they wander throughout the Italian countryside. Through these stories, we get a sense of the message that St. Francis preached, as well as the way in which his followers tried to live their lives in accordance with that message.

One of the themes that emerges throughout the movie is the tension between the material world and the spiritual world. At one point, St. Francis and his followers are given a derelict church to live in, which they renovate and turn into their home. However, when they encounter a group of travelers who need a place to stay, they are forced to choose between their comfortable living arrangements and the needs of others. Ultimately, they choose to give up their home and take to the road again, in order to continue spreading their message and helping those in need.

Another theme that emerges is the idea of the power of love to overcome hatred and violence. In one of the movie's most powerful scenes, St. Francis comes face-to-face with a group of Saracens, who threaten his life. Rather than respond with violence, St. Francis embraces the Saracens and offers them food and drink. As a result, the Saracens are moved by his kindness and renounce their plans to harm him.

Throughout the movie, Rossellini uses a minimalist style to convey the emotions and experiences of the characters. The dialogue is spare, and the camera lingers on simple but evocative images of the natural world, such as the wind ruffling through grass or the light of a candle flickering in the dark. The black-and-white cinematography, too, is stark and stylized, emphasizing the contrast between light and dark.

At the heart of the movie is Aldo Fabrizi's performance as St. Francis. Fabrizi is not a conventional leading man, and his physicality and rough-hewn appearance lend a sense of authenticity to his portrayal of the saint. Throughout the movie, he exudes a sense of warmth and tenderness, which makes it easy to understand why people were so drawn to St. Francis during his lifetime.

In addition to Fabrizi's performance, the other actors in the movie are also noteworthy. Bellini and Peparuolo, in particular, bring a sense of humor and humanity to their roles as St. Francis's companions. Each of the vignettes in the movie is enriched by the performances of the various actors, who bring to life the varied characters that St. Francis and his followers encounter on their journey.

In the end, The Flowers of St. Francis is a moving and meditative movie that captures the spirit of one of the great religious thinkers and leaders of all time. Through its evocative imagery, spare storytelling, and strong performances, it provides a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, love, and humility in our lives.