FRANCIS, MINSTREL OF GOD (FRANCESCO, GIULLARE DI DIO)

Italy, 1950, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Non-professional cast, Aldo Fabrizi.
Directed by Roberto Rossellini.

Francis, Minstrel of God is one of many films that Rossellini made focusing on significant personalities of history. Many of these were from the church, the Acts of the Apostles and St Augustine and a film about the gospels, The Messiah (1971). Others were cinema essays on significant people like Socrates.

Rossellini had been making films during World War II but at the end of the war with Vittorio de Sica brought Italian neo-realism to the fore in world cinema, especially with Paisa and Open City.

He made this film about St Francis of Assisi, using the little book The Little Flowers of St Francis containing its prayers and legends. He concentrates on the human element rather than the legends of Francis with the animals (although there is a scene of Francis praying and his being with birds).

The film focuses on the Franciscan group, rather similar in many ways to eccentric groups in contemporary times or Hari Krishna groups. Francis and his associates, knocking on people's doors are more reminiscent of Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses. However, they blended into the times, beggars, living out in the woods, making an impression on people all of whom were Catholic. Francis, after a worldly life, renounced his family and went out with his companions to the woods, preaching peace and poverty. From such small charismatic beginnings, enormous movements for eight centuries have influenced not only the church but the world.

Francis appears as a mystic, a leader of people, a touch of a sense of humour, but definitely in charge. There are sketches of the other friars, with the emphasis being given to Brother Juniper. There are also some humorous scenes with the simple old man, Brother John.

This is a film of the 1950s (at a time when Rossellini himself was in controversy owing to his marriage to Ingrid Bergman). It presents an old world picture of the saints. Twenty years later Franco Zeffirelli was to be influenced by the flower people movement with Brother Sun, Sister Moon. There had been a Hollywood version with Bradford Dillman in 1961 directed by Michael Curtiz. Another version was made by Liliana Cavani in 1993 with Mickey Rourke and Helena Bonham-Carter?.

1. The perennial popularity of St Francis of Assisi? His life, his renunciation of family and wealth, his going into the woods, his band of followers, poverty, preaching peace? The humanity of St Francis? His love of nature? His praise of God? The influence of Francis on religious orders, on the church, on people all over the world until the present?

2. The black and white photography, the Italian countryside? The suggestions of the 13th century, especially in the villages, and with the tyrant Nicolai? The musical score, the hymns and chant?

3. The basis of the film in The Little Flowers of St Francis, popular legends, stories of the saint? Their being handed down through the centuries? A realistic picture? Romantic picture? An interpretation of holiness?

4. The episodes and the structure of the film, the cumulative effect, the portrait of Francis, of the group, of individuals like Leo, John and Juniper?

5. The opening and the introduction to Francis, the group coming from Rome, the approval of the Pope, the pouring rain, their stopping to discuss about how they would give sermons? The man occupying their hut, the donkey, his sending them out, their going to Assisi to build another house? The building of the house and the joy in the work together?

6. The focus on Juniper, his giving away his tunic, his returning to the group, the moralising on poverty and generosity? Juniper and his cooking, his wanting to preach? The big meal for two weeks working with John, putting all the vegetables in, John putting the sticks in as well? Francis and his giving Juniper the opportunity to preach? Juniper and his travels, the injunction of Francis to say that he said much and did little? At the waterfall and nobody hearing him, with the children and the seesaw? Hearing about the tyrant, going to the siege of Viterbo? The ruffians and their throwing him around, using him as a skipping rope? Taking him to the tyrant, assumed that he was assassin, to be executed, the priest coming and listening to him, discovering who he was, making the appeal to the tyrant? The humour of the tyrant in his armour (and Aldo Fabrizi doing a great hamming act)? His taking Juniper to his tent, threatening him in so many ways, Juniper smiling - and Nicolai giving up the siege of Viterbo? Juniper's happy return?

7. Claire, her friendship with Francis, the nuns, their visiting the friars, their praying together, examining the community together?

8. John, his simplicity, his taking the ox, the villagers wanting it back, Francis taking him in, his wanting to imitate Francis? His staying with the community, simple, echoing everybody's comments, helping Juniper with the meal but throwing the sticks in? The farewell and his spinning around - and going preaching?

9. The focus on Francis, his simplicity, charm, humour, leadership qualities? Holy obedience? His singing the Canticle and praying the Our Father, his praying with the birds? Their flying and sense of freedom? His seeing the leper, following him, embracing him, weeping? His going with Leo and the man giving them the coin after beating the robbery to death? His grief, their knocking on the mansion door, the man getting a stick and wielding it and sending them away - and Francis moralising that this was perfect happiness, suffering for Christ?

10. The decision that they all go to preach peace to the world, their spinning around and falling, going in the direction in which they fell? The injunctions of Francis to preach to the world? The dialogue of the film and its strong sermon and moralising tone? Exhortations to practical spirituality? Devotion?