After having a spiritual awakening following an accident where he is bedridden for many days, he opens his eyes, heart and soul to the wonder of resting in God's provision and rejecting the material life of his family and the world. He leaves the security of the family household and secludes himself on a snowy mountaintop where he reconstructs an abandoned church for himself and his followers. His acts of valor find him carrying stones for the walls of the building, seemingly oblivious to the frigid temperatures assaulting his bare feet and body.
With a love for God's nature, Francis, while still a young man, was inspired by the saintly and charitable maiden Clare (Judi Bowker, Clash of the Titans) --whose life later initiated the Franciscan sister order, Poor Ladies to the Order of Saint Clare -- watched in awe as this beautiful girl secretly brought food to a castaway leper colony.
Francis's family, being astonished and appalled by his abandonment of their name, fortune and to the material world, made an apologetic excuse for his lunacy while Francis first sought out the homeless, and disposed of his father's expensive textiles by throwing them out of a window and into the arms of the awaiting poor below. His father denounced him as mad and Francis secluded himself in the snowy mountains surrounded by God's love and nature.
As his order multiplied, Francis went on a mission to the Vatican in hopes of having a visitation with Pope Innocent III (Alec Guinness, Star Wars). To the surprise of all in attendance, the Pope humbly met with the disheveled monk and shared his blessing while expressing his love and admiration to Francis for reminding him of the fervor he once possessed when just a young priest. This validation from the Pope gave the poorly accepted order the respect and approval they deserved throughout the world.
Brother Sun, Sister Moon is a wonderfully genuine and inspiring story about the determination of one man to follow God's law and live in harmony with God's earth and creatures. St. Francis is a highly honored saint and praised for his love of mankind and animals.
Brother Sun, Sister Moon is a beautiful family story that describes the difficult life that St. Francis experienced and the power of God's love and assistance. From the technical side, there are some complaints about the widescreen cutting off some of the film, but personally I was so caught up in the story that I didn't even notice anything out of place. Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet) directed the film, and the singer Donovan is responsible for the original music (international version), which is an added incentive. And, I understand from another source, that Alec Guinness was anxious to play this role because he had just converted to Catholicism. For me, it was a great experience and I am glad to add it to my collection; I hope you will be too!
Please remember that this movie is manufactured on demand (MOD) and must be ordered directly from Warner Archives. Check out the link below to order your own copy.
