Brother Sun, Sister Moon in Bloomington, MN

The second major filmed biography of St. Francis of Assisi, Brother Sun, Sister Moon is a dazzlingly attractive production. Graham Faulkner stars as saint-in-the-making Francesco, who is so lovingly photographed (by Ennio Guarniere) that even the men in the audience will fall in love with him. While fighting in the Crusades, Francesco falls victim to a fever which induces horrible visions of apocalyptic future. He emerges from his wartime experiences determined to do nothing but good for his fellow man. To the accompaniment of enjoyable (but rather anachornistic) music by Donovan, Francesco travels from town to town, accumulating a devoted ragtag band of followers (comparisons to the hippie movement are inescapable). The film comes to an overpowering climax when Francesco is granted an audience with Pope Innocent III (Alec Guinness), who gives his blessings to the young man's ragged entourage. Among the screenwriters of Brother Sun, Sister Moon are such diverse types as Suso Cecchi d'Amico and Lina Wertmuller. Brother Sun, Sister Moon would make a fascinating (if overlong) double bill with the Hollywoodized 1961 epic Francis of Assisi.