Brother Sun, Sister Moon

1972 • 121 minutes

About this movie

Director Franco Zeffirelli's film, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, focuses on the early years of Francis of Assisi, who sought communion with the natural world by renouncing his family's riches to seek his own destiny unencumbered by material possessions.

Ratings and reviews

Zeffirelli’s presentation, though it takes license with some of the history, is one that captures Francis’ spiritual persona. The film moves one to embrace the seemingly unembraceable, to see in the world and especially in one another the undeniable presence of the divine, no matter it’s articulation or non-articulation! To paraphrase Donovan's words we are Your creatures; of You we are part. Now let that Love awaken all our hearts!

Definitely inspirational. Every time I see this, it makes me want to become a saint. If we say that no one can live as Jesus did and taught, do we not invalidate the Gospel, and run the risk of heresy? No one doubts that Jesus was poor. The question is whether the Church should be poor. Francis proved it could still be done in his day. Why not in ours? Of course, Jesus did later tell his disciples to take a staff and a bag, and to be as sly as serpents and innocent as doves.

This move is very inspirational. It captures the spirit of St Francis. The scenery and music harmonize with the beauty of Francis's love and single minded love of Jesus.