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From Amazon.co.uk
It seemed like a good idea in 1973: a musical scored by Donovan about the life and times of St. Francis of Assisi, the passionate ascetic who expressed love for God by loving nature. But the finished product was something else. Filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli (Endless Love) makes a decorous effort at communicating the ideals of Francis and even tweaking the character toward flower-power relevance. But the result is feel-good fluff, a boring movie that doesn't penetrate its subject as much as reinvent him toward a modern bias. Graham Faulkner is entirely forgettable in the lead and Donovan's songs on this project aren't exactly first-rate, either. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Franco Zeffirelli's version of the life of back-to-nature saint, Francis of Assisi, with a soundtrack by Donovan. Graham Faulkner and Judi Bowker star.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
I never understand the bad reviews that one reads for this film. It is a stunningly beautiful evocation of Francis life. Do you find it a modern reading of Francis? Good!! That will let you connect with the real person.
A most beautiful film, full of art references. DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!!
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
I firts saw this film as a child (I must have been six or seven). I loved it, and as for the music, I cannot listen to it without being moved to tears. Zeffirelli really caught the spirituality of St. Francis.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Nicktomjoe
Format:VHS Tape
The date of release says it all; Francis' return from a disastrous war leaves him scarred and disillusioned. The parallels with Vietnam are obvious, although not overdone; Donovan's music plants this squarely in the seventies. A series of (simply portayed) religious experiences changes Francis' life, and gradually that of his friends.
Shot in Northern Italy in the bright colours and "spit and sawdust" that are Zeffirelli's trademarks (as in his Jesus, and Romeo and Juliet, and parodied mercilessly in Jabberwocky and Life of Brian), the cast rise to the occasion to produce a romanticised version of Francis' early adult life, slightly over the top, perhaps, but coherent and dramatically plausible. If the costumes or some of the scenes are extravagant, they nonetheless portray the ethos of the central Middle Ages very well: small town rivalries, the increasingly uneasy relations between rich and poor, the lumbering ritual of a rapidly stagnating Christianity that the Franciscans did so much to revitalise. If it didn't look quite like that, it ought to have done.
I have loved the film since I first saw it and still find myself singing the music (failed hippy!).
Shot in Northern Italy in the bright colours and "spit and sawdust" that are Zeffirelli's trademarks (as in his Jesus, and Romeo and Juliet, and parodied mercilessly in Jabberwocky and Life of Brian), the cast rise to the occasion to produce a romanticised version of Francis' early adult life, slightly over the top, perhaps, but coherent and dramatically plausible. If the costumes or some of the scenes are extravagant, they nonetheless portray the ethos of the central Middle Ages very well: small town rivalries, the increasingly uneasy relations between rich and poor, the lumbering ritual of a rapidly stagnating Christianity that the Franciscans did so much to revitalise. If it didn't look quite like that, it ought to have done.
I have loved the film since I first saw it and still find myself singing the music (failed hippy!).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Glad I watched it.
It's was made in 1972 and looks and feels dated but with the new pope called Francis', I wanted to see this film. Read more
Published 1 month ago by sarah Chevalier
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent film!
Having recently returned from a visit to Assisi, Italy, I was anxious to re-awaken my acquaintance with Zefferelli's film of St. Francis. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Nuala Wainwright
4.0 out of 5 stars
Simplicity
This is a very simple but gentle film. Its very relaxing to watch and gets its message across. Good to hear Donovan also
Published 1 month ago by Angela M. C. D'alton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very attractive depiction of Frans of Assisi.
Very nice music and pictures. The cover seems to me more sensual than religiously contemplating. But is probably apt for the time of its production (1973, with hippie things like... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jorgen Christensen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brother Sun Sister Moon dvd
I bought the film as a video ages ago after seeing it at the cinema. Bought this dvd as the video was getting a bit old. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kevin
1.0 out of 5 stars
faulty
I regret to say the DVD was faulty.on two occasions at the beginning and towards the end the DVD went into a freeze frame and skipped possibly up tp 15 minutes of the film in... Read more
Published 2 months ago by thomas fogarty
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic 70's musical
The story of St Francis of Assisi in a musical, Some nice songs, but rather dated. Typical of the 70's era.
Published 4 months ago by A. Rogers
1.0 out of 5 stars
Brother Sun, Sister Moon dvd 1973
This was not my type of film at all. It reminded me of a film being made on the cheap. It was long, boring and certainly did not convince me of it's religious content.
Published 4 months ago by Mrs B STEWART
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brother Sun Sister Moon
I may perhaps have over starred it but the comments from relatives who have watched it, and loved it, I go along with them. Yes, it was lovely. Thank you
Published 5 months ago by Thomas O'Neill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blissful masterpiece
What a wonderful film? Full of splendid scenes such as the one with the Pope and lots of a very handsome actor in the leading role.
Donovan's music is the icing on the cake. Read more
Donovan's music is the icing on the cake. Read more
Published 5 months ago by barnesdave
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