Avevo grandi aspettative ma mi ha deluso. L'ho trovato lento, pesante e a tratti noioso.
3 Reviews
Troppo lento
robydiroby2 May 2018
Of the spirit and the letter
franbelle1023 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The movie revolves around the spirit and the letter of the poverty and fraternity rules of the Franciscans Order, and the confrontation of two visions around this question, the vision of Saint Francis and the one embodied by Elias of Cortona. It properly shows that the controversy about how to follow the Gospel life of poverty, which would plague the Franciscans Order for several hundred of years, began even before the death of Saint Francis. And it properly shows the reaction of Saint Francis up to his death.
I would say that Saint Francis is the best figure of the movie, and Elias of Cortona is the weakest part of the script, the controversy itself being, actually, the main figure.
In fact, to fully appreciate it, one has to understand that this movie is not about Saint Francis but about something that could have happen in his vicinity, the same way Ben Hur is not about Jésus but about something that could have happen in his vicinity. Saint Francis is a pretext to a spiritual journey more than a subject.
Since there is no contemporary life of Elias, the movie remains an interesting and free (as in intellectual freedom) attempt at embodying two spiritual options, even if the writer may have taken a bit too much liberties in brushing Elias. Down from 8 stars to 7 because of that.
I would say that Saint Francis is the best figure of the movie, and Elias of Cortona is the weakest part of the script, the controversy itself being, actually, the main figure.
In fact, to fully appreciate it, one has to understand that this movie is not about Saint Francis but about something that could have happen in his vicinity, the same way Ben Hur is not about Jésus but about something that could have happen in his vicinity. Saint Francis is a pretext to a spiritual journey more than a subject.
Since there is no contemporary life of Elias, the movie remains an interesting and free (as in intellectual freedom) attempt at embodying two spiritual options, even if the writer may have taken a bit too much liberties in brushing Elias. Down from 8 stars to 7 because of that.
Brothers
ulicknormanowen12 March 2024
St Francis of Assisi inspired a lot of films : in Hollywood ,Curtiz 'version ,starring Bradford Dillmann , showed the whole story ,including the turbulent life of the young man ; Franco Zephirelli's "fratello sole, sorella luna ",with splendid pictures and a hippie side with folk music by Donovan ; and Rosselini's "giullare di dio" .
This new version ,with an impeccable cinematography , is bald, bressonesque ,and may be off- putting to some ; his racy youth is thoroughly passed over in silence and the film is divided into chapters ,which was not necessary ; the essential being Francis's devoutness, his care of the sick and the poor ,and his style of life which came against a dogmatic religion ,long before Calvin and Luther denounced the religious hiercharchy ,their luxury ,the notorious indulgences , and a return to the Bible, to Christ's words .
Francis ' rules which were too ahead of their time ,had to be corrected,and when they were eventually approved ,the saint noticed that some of his most important sentences had disappeared.
Jérémie Rénier ,one of the best European actors ,is ideally cast as Francis .And what a good idea to cast his peer Olivier Gourmet -both men have often worked together ,notably in the Dardenne bro's movies - as Cardinal Ugolini ,his protector, who would become pope Gregory the Ninth and who had his protégé canonized two years after his death ,a record .
Not very accessible, but rewarding.
This new version ,with an impeccable cinematography , is bald, bressonesque ,and may be off- putting to some ; his racy youth is thoroughly passed over in silence and the film is divided into chapters ,which was not necessary ; the essential being Francis's devoutness, his care of the sick and the poor ,and his style of life which came against a dogmatic religion ,long before Calvin and Luther denounced the religious hiercharchy ,their luxury ,the notorious indulgences , and a return to the Bible, to Christ's words .
Francis ' rules which were too ahead of their time ,had to be corrected,and when they were eventually approved ,the saint noticed that some of his most important sentences had disappeared.
Jérémie Rénier ,one of the best European actors ,is ideally cast as Francis .And what a good idea to cast his peer Olivier Gourmet -both men have often worked together ,notably in the Dardenne bro's movies - as Cardinal Ugolini ,his protector, who would become pope Gregory the Ninth and who had his protégé canonized two years after his death ,a record .
Not very accessible, but rewarding.
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