Francesco

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Audience Score

User Ratings: 976

Movie Info

Told in flashback, the film relates Francis of Assisi's evolution from rich man's son to religious humanitarian and eventually to full-fledged saint. Francesco was based on Hermann Hesse's Francis of Assisi, which director Liliana Cavani had previously filmed in 1966. The Saint and founder of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor is played by Mickey Rourke, and his inspiration, the woman who later became Saint Clare, is played by Helena Bonham Carter. Raised as the pampered son of a merchant, Francis goes off to war only to return with a profound horror for the society which generated such suffering. In one scene, as an act of renunciation, he strips himself of his fine clothing in front of his father and leaves the house naked and barefoot, joining the lepers and beggars in the poor section of town. The film follows with a series of episodes from the saint's life rather than a coherent narrative, following up until his final days when he receives the stigmata, or wounds similar to those on the body of Jesus at the crucifixion.

Rating:

PG-13
Genre:

Art House & International, Drama, Faith & Spirituality
Directed By:

Liliana Cavani
Written By:

Liliana Cavani, Roberta Mazzoni
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1989 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Feb 24, 1998
Runtime:

155 minutes
Studio:

Simitar

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Cast

Mickey Rourke
as Francis of Assisi

Helena Bonham Carter
as Clare

Paolo Bonacelli
as Father

Mario Adorf
as Ugolino

Matteo Corsini
as Angelo Tancredi

Andrea Ferreol
as Mother

Hanns Zischler
as Pope Innocent III

Peter Berling
as Guido--Bishop of Assisi

Fabio Bussotti
as Leone

Riccardo De Torrebruna
as Pietro Cattani

Edward Farrelly
as Egidio

Paolo Proietti
as Pacifico

Paco Reconti
as Rufino

Diego Ribon
as Bernardo di Quintavalle

Maurizio Schmidt
as Masseo

Nikolaus Dutsch
as Cardinal Colonna

Stanko Molnar
as Elia Bombarone

Sofia Amendolea
as Woman in the Hovels

Nicoletta Boris
as Woman in the Hovels

Enrica Brunelli
as Woman in the Hovels

Francesco Fenati
as Woman in the Hovels

Monica Fiorentini
as Woman in the Hovels

Loris Loddi
as Woman in the Hovels

Egidio Termine
as Man in the Hovels

Memo Dini
as Man in the Hovels

Richard Berkeley
as Learned Brother

Giorgio Dal Piaz
as Learned Brother

Claudio Lorimer
as Learned Brother

Paolo Lorimer
as Learned Brother

Giuseppe Peruccio
as Learned Brother

Ennio Tozzi
as Learned Brother

Roberto Egon
as New Brother

Leonardo Ferrantini
as New Brother

Adriano Arie Wajskol
as New Brother

Domiziano Arcangeli
as Man in Lateran Palace

Donemico Fiore
as Man in Lateran Palace

Fabrizio Fontana
as Man in Lateran Palace

Jorge Krimer
as Man in Lateran Palace

John Frances Lane
as Man in Lateran Palace

David Maunsell
as Man in Lateran Palace

Giovanni Tamberi
as Man in Lateran Palace

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Critic Reviews for Francesco

All Critics (1) | Rotten (1)

How has this vibrant human firebrand, this unpredictable, leaping, shouting zealot, been transformed into the sheepish, subdued, self-deprecating cypher played by Rourke?

Dec 30, 2004 | Rating: F | Full Review…

Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide