The Flowers of St. Francis

About The Flowers of St. Francis

The Flowers of St. Francis, originally titled 'Francesco, giullare di Dio', is a beautiful portrayal of the life of St. Francis of Assisi and his followers, the Franciscan friars. Released in 1950, this movie demonstrates the simplicity, humility, and faith of St. Francis and his disciples. The film does not focus on plot but instead paints a vivid picture through a series of vignettes, reflecting the minimalist and ascetic life that St. Francis embraced.

Making / Production

Directed by Roberto Rossellini, The Flowers of St. Francis is a significant part of the Italian neorealist cinema. Real monks from the Nocere Inferiore Monastery were used to achieve authenticity in depicting the life of the Franciscan friars. The script was written by Federico Fellini and Antonio Lisandrini, kept in line with the neorealist ethos of the director all the while managing to portray the light-hearted simplicity of St. Francis.

Actors

• Nazario Gerardi as St. Francis - Gerardi was not a professional actor but a real Franciscan friar. His devout and humble portrayal of St. Francis is considered the movie's highlight.
• Severino Pisacane as Ginepro - Pisacane's portrayal of the novice monk, Ginepro, blends innocence and comedy, capturing the spirit of the religious order.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film does not have a traditional narrative structure. Instead, it is a collection of anecdotes about the saints, making it unique in religious cinema.
• The actors in the film were actual monks from a monastery in Italy, not professional actors.

Quotes

• "What we are before God, that we are and nothing more."
• "When you are before the Lord, leave aside all other thoughts. Let your heart be tender and full of mercy, not hard and troubled."

Music, Soundtrack

• The movie doesn't have a traditional musical score. Instead, it uses chants and hymns sung by the friars, adding authenticity to the scenes.