In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

its lively poetry. like a refuge. like a veil. this is the gift to me each time when I saw it. and the motif to discover it as the best film about Francisc of Assisi. sure, it is a religious film. and more. sure, it has the mark of its director art. but not only. it is a declaration of faith and the inspired translation of a profound and delicate story about a symbol of Western Church. and this does it real different by the other versions. because it is the film who not gives a story but reveals its aura and air and flavor and force and specificity. its poetry is the basic motif to see it. for a sort of special beauty. for the art of a refined manner to see the pure faith.

This was Zeffirelli's first film after his successful rendering of "Romeo and Juliet" on location in Verona in a very expressionistic and emotional interpretation, and the same poetry and beauty favorably dominates this very sensitive and personal view of the person of St. Francis and how he started, including all his conflicts, above all with his father. The story is not entirely truthful, though. The emperor at the time was no Otto but the controversial Frederick II, and the pope that established the Franciscan order was not the great Innocent III, Frederick II:s tutor and guardian, but Honorius III, his successor, who also established the Dominican order and the Inquisition. Just like Visconti, Zeffirelli is above all an accomplished director of operas if not the best, and in later years he has only devoted himself to operas. This however qualified him more than well enough to also make accomplished films, which all are outstanding in every aspect of quality, especially pictorially and musically. It was a wonderfully pleasant surprise to hear Donovan, of all people, to sing the songs of St. Francis with his mellow and very sympathetic voice (as opposite to the harsh croaking of Bob Dylan), and he has actually written the music here matching the Franciscan spirit perfectly. Graham Faulkner as Francis couldn't be better, while there have been many films made on this story which no film can fail with. The all-Italian "Francesco - giullare di dio", ("Francis, God's clown") by Roberto Rossellini (1950) was perhaps more genuine and charming in its authentic innocence, trying to get through to the real Francis as closely as possible, but Zeffirelli's masterpiece remains thorough as such with impressing scenery all through, from Tuscany, San Gimignano and an impressing finale filmed in the wondrous cathedral of Monreale outside Palermo in Sicily. Alec Guinness was a catholic himself and is very convincing as the pope being almost converted by the barefoot saint. "Romeo and Juliet" was a triumph, but the question is if not his film of St. Francis, although less ambitious, is more sustained and delicate as a masterpiece.

I don't know what they could have done to make this film any better.Graham Faulkner is perfectly cast, and Judi Bowker is the perfect Clare.It's hard to believe that I walked out on it the first time I saw it on a double bill with "Siddhartha", another of my all time favorites. The opening scenes of warfare were violent and didn't suit my mood.Fortunately for me, I went back into the theatre and watched this film in its entirety.The settings are beautiful, the people are beautiful and the story makes your soul fly! See this film.You'll be glad you did.

Good acting, some nice cinematography, all in all good considering it an old film but I must say it was way too spoonfeeding for my tastes and a lot of the life of St Francis was left out. This is the same director that shot Jesus of Nazareth, the Monthy Python boys could easily have spoofed this as they did with that due to this very spoonfeeding I am on about. I think I much preferred the movie "Francesco" with Mickey Rourke, although not even that made me feel as engulfed as the book I read about the man and saint, definitely one of my favorites. St Francis was a downright rebel, this is not documented well enough here and when they dare to I must say there are some cheesy and unconvincing moments. Another thing to point out and i am glad they don't do it anymore is when you get them Italian characters being played out in the cleanest English. Now don't get me wrong the man and his story are so great that even this version is worth a watch. There is a lovely part about the stones. Oh and the music to this film is truly special and adequately most poetic.