The last factor, scenery, is also worth considering. The mosaic of Monreale Pantocrator looking deeply into everyone's eyes, pope's dream and second calling of Francesco and finally his blessing to the amazement of others - the film is worth watching for thanks to this scene alone. This viewpoint is, definitely, overdone, but there is some truth in it. A Polish movie critic said that it is the most moving scene in the history of cinema. However, one forgets about all these mistakes when the scene with the pope comes on screen. What is more, he was a great "Lover" of the Holy Cross, which I can't find in this film. In fact, Francesco did not leave his family like that. I don't know why Zeffirelli changed it so much. Whenever I watch other films about Francesco, I can't get used to other faces than theirs from this film. Others, including Lee Montague (Pietro Bernardone), Leigh Lawson (Bernardo) and Valentina Cortese (Pica) also give memorable performances. His role of pope Innocent is really unforgettable.
Graham Faulkner was very much like Saint Francis: these profound eyes, smile full of love. Is there something magical about it? I think that what makes me, personally, fond of it are four most basic factors: the director himself, Franco Zeffirelli, whom I have always admired for his "artistic soul", the story, far from the true, but still moving and retaining the gist of Francesco's life - love to God and His creatures, the music by Ken Thorne and sung by Donovan (especially the title song), and scenery in which the movie was shot. However, in spite of some faded emotions, it is still a film which I consider pleasure seeing again. Now, in 2004, when I see it again, I must admit that most of its splendor is gone. I loved everything about it, music, story, cast, scenery, everything. The feelings I had are hard to express with words. I was 10 at the time when it was on Polish TV (before 1989 such films were censored by communists). This comment discusses the English version BROTHER SUN SISTER MOON was the first film I had seen in my life.
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