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Amazon.co.uk Review
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
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
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!!
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
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.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
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
SO BRILLIANT
I saw this film when I was a child in the 70's. I remember being very moved then. Well, I have watched it so many times now, nobody like Graham Faulkner impersonates St Francis so... Read more
Published 1 month ago by stella
Great movie!
This is an amazing movie with a perfect landscape. The history is inspiring and can be applied nowadays. Love, simplicity and beauty in a old fashion and well directed movie!
Published 1 month ago by Regiane
1970's arty farty but one of my all time favorites.
I love this film despite its dated style. Its a wonderful introduction to the story of Francis and Clare, both moving and enjoyable but it does leave you wanting to know more... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Clarefrancis
FRANCIS GOES GROOVY
Excellent movie adaptation of the life of Francis,great acting, groovy hippy Donovan soundtrack. An inspiring movie that lifts the spirits. Fantastic.
Published 6 months ago by timbo
brother sun sister moon
I do enjoy the movie even though it probably not historically accurate but I especilly like some of the songs sung by Donovan on the soundtrack.
Published 7 months ago by noel-di
beautiful film
A beautiful film in both the visual sense as well as the story. I first saw this movie in the the early seventies ,it made a very strong impact on me with its very simple... Read more
Published 8 months ago by robbie
A pleasant film of its time.
A nostalgic trip back to the Seventies.Also a 'hippyish' view of the early life of St.Francis of Assisi with some nice music by Donovan and lovely photography of the Italian... Read more
Published 14 months ago by J.D.Spinks
St Francis for the 1970s
Zeffirelli's take on St Francis is very much of its time with its echoes of anti-Vietnam war protest, flower power, hippies, youth revolt, etc. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Vandal9
Gentle and nourishes the soul
There is something so pure about this film. It allows the viewer to inwardly relax and be at one with nature - the world - and be deeply inspired to find God - something rare in a... Read more
Published 20 months ago by A. Thornton
Great Service!
Thank you. DVD arrived as advertised and in very good time. Well done!
Published 22 months ago by Dizzy
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