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Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Original title: Fratello sole, sorella luna
  • 1972
  • PG
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
Dramatization of events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi from before his conversion experience through his audience with the pope, including his friendship with St. Clare.
Play trailer3:44
1 Video
87 Photos
BiographyDramaHistory

Dramatization of events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi from before his conversion experience through his audience with the pope, including his friendship with St. Clare.Dramatization of events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi from before his conversion experience through his audience with the pope, including his friendship with St. Clare.Dramatization of events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi from before his conversion experience through his audience with the pope, including his friendship with St. Clare.

  • Director
    • Franco Zeffirelli
  • Writers
    • Suso Cecchi D'Amico
    • Charles Dyer
    • Kenneth Ross
  • Stars
    • Graham Faulkner
    • Judi Bowker
    • Leigh Lawson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    4.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Franco Zeffirelli
    • Writers
      • Suso Cecchi D'Amico
      • Charles Dyer
      • Kenneth Ross
    • Stars
      • Graham Faulkner
      • Judi Bowker
      • Leigh Lawson
    • 68User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:44
    Watch Trailer

    Photos87

    Judi Bowker and Graham Faulkner in Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Judi Bowker and Graham Faulkner in Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Judi Bowker and Graham Faulkner in Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Graham Faulkner in Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Graham Faulkner in Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Graham Faulkner in Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Graham Faulkner in Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
    Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Graham Faulkner
    Graham Faulkner
    • St. Francis of Assisi
    Judi Bowker
    Judi Bowker
    • Clare
    Leigh Lawson
    Leigh Lawson
    • Bernardo
    Kenneth Cranham
    Kenneth Cranham
    • Paolo
    Lee Montague
    Lee Montague
    • Pietro Di Bernardone
    Valentina Cortese
    Valentina Cortese
    • Pica Di Bernardone
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • Pope Innocent III
    Michael Feast
    Michael Feast
    • Silvestro
    Nicholas Willatt
    Nicholas Willatt
    • Giocondo
    John Sharp
    John Sharp
    • Bishop Guido
    Adolfo Celi
    Adolfo Celi
    • Consul
    Francesco Guerrieri
    • Deodato
    Peter Firth
    Peter Firth
    Robin Askwith
    Robin Askwith
    • Minor Role
    • (scenes deleted)
    Rossano Attrotico
    Pierre Baldini
      Alfredo Bianchini
      • Prete
      Aristide Caporale
      • Derelict
      • Director
        • Franco Zeffirelli
      • Writers
        • Suso Cecchi D'Amico
        • Charles Dyer(uncredited)
        • Kenneth Ross
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        According to Franco Zeffirelli's autobiography, The Beatles were asked to appear in this movie in the main roles, but were unable due to scheduling conflicts. Zeffirelli also screentested Al Pacino for the role of Francesco, but rejected him due to his theatrical overacting style.
      • Goofs
        HH Pope Innocent III is depicted with a full beard; however, there are several contemporary portraits that show that he was clean shaven.
      • Quotes

        Clare: Do you remember me? I'm Clare... People say you are mad, do you know that? When you went off to war they said you were fine, intelligent - and now you are mad, because... because you sing like the birds, you chase after butterflies and... you look at flowers. I think you were mad before, not now.

      • Alternate versions
        The Italian version runs 14 minutes longer, has a different score (no Donovan) and is totally recut, almost to the extent of being a different film. The film is not a flashback, it begins as the boys travel to an attic where they've acquired suits of Armour, then into the credits, then an extended ride through the fields with totally different dialogue. Different scenes, shots and dialogue throughout.
      • Connections
        Featured in Tabloid (2010)
      • Soundtracks
        Preghiera semplice
        (Riz Ortolani-Benjamin)

        Sung by Claudio Baglioni

      User reviews68

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      10/10
      This movie highly impacted me as an early college student in the 1970s.
      Upon seeing this movie in my young 20s, I fell in love (metaphorically speaking) with St. Francis of Assisi and the simple message of life that he practiced. Though many of the absolute facts were stretched, like in most "historic" films, the movie was completely on the mark about his simplicity and his love of nature and mankind. In addition, it gave a very plausible and probable glimpse of the love relationship he had with St. Clare, all in contrast with the idea of love and sexuality which we have in these times.

      Though the Italian version soundtrack was not by Donovan, the English language songs he sang gave the movie great focus and support. I often wondered why it was only issued on vinyl in Italy, which is how I discovered Donovan's songs were not present. The music is sensitive and wonderful.

      Both young actors, Bowker & Faulkner, fill their roles with perfection. Bowker is one of the most beautiful and sensitive young actresses of that period, so it is with wonder that she was not more utilized or popular.

      Yes, the film does have the allegorical connection with the hippie movement, but that does not diminish the story nor the impact. In fact, rather, it parallels our times and served to connect me with the times of Francis, if that is possible.

      Finally, Zeffirelli deserves a thanks for tackling this saint with compelling zeal, passion, sensitivity, and panache. As another reviewer here noted, the scenery will blow you away. And as a child of the 50s who grew up in the late 60s, this movie offset the idea of love having to be of a sexual nature, and elevated love to a plane where it becomes transcendent and transforming. Isn't that what love is supposed to do in our lives? I have had my own 2 sons watch it with me more than once as they were growing up, and they are mid-20s now.

      It will be a hard film to find, but is viewable for any age without reservations and is well worth the search. (It is now available on DVD for around $10 or less.)
      helpful•32
      2
      • dfwtvman@aol.com
      • Oct 29, 2005

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      FAQ1

      • Wasn't there another movie, a few decades earlier, about St. Francis: "Brother Sun, Sister Moon"...?

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • December 2, 1972 (United States)
      • Countries of origin
        • United Kingdom
        • Italy
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Bruder Sonne, Schwester Mond
      • Filming locations
        • Abbey of Sant' Antimo, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy(interiors of the Assisi parish church)
      • Production companies
        • Euro International Films
        • Vic Films Productions
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      • Budget
        • $3,000,000 (estimated)
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • Runtime
        2 hours 1 minute
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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