Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972) on Netflix
PG19722h 1mBiographyDramaHistory
Francesco Bernardone comes home from war to Assisi, ill and troubled by the life of parties he once led. He turns from his father's textile trade to nature and to the poor.
- Netflix2.9/5
- IMDb7.2/105,390 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes42%
Trailer
Plot summary
Francesco Bernardone is the spoiled son of Pietro, a wealthy textile merchant in Assisi. He comes back from fighting in the war with Perugia, too ill to remain a soldier, and through a long recovery he is tormented by visions of the boisterous, arrogant young man he used to be. Once he is well, he wants none of his former life: he passes his days among flowers, trees and animals, and his father's obsession with gold fills him with disgust. In the dye basement he sees laborers working in heat and humidity without rest, so he pulls them out into the daylight and throws his father's stored textiles down to the poor gathered below. Pietro beats him and drags him to the bishop, where Francesco gives up his possessions and his family.
Cast
- Nicholas Willattas Giacondo
- John Sharpas Bischof Guido
- Francesco Guerrierias Deodato
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Leonard Bernstein and lyricist Leonard Cohen were commissioned to write the film's score and worked on it for about three months in Italy before withdrawing; Bernstein reused "A Simple Song" from it in his Mass, and Paul Simon declined the job after being approached.
- Frank Grimes was offered the lead role of Francesco di Bernardone but Franco Zeffirelli withdrew the offer at the last minute; Al Pacino screen-tested for the part and was rejected because the director objected to his theatrical style.
- Lynne Frederick auditioned for the role of Clare of Assisi and was first runner-up, while Candace Glendenning also tested for the part but was judged "too exotic-looking".
- Peter Firth made his film debut in Brother Sun, Sister Moon as one of Francis' disciples, but his role was all-but-deleted from the final cut even though he is still listed in the credits.
- The San Damiano crucifix in the film was kept in a warehouse until 2001, when it was auctioned with 259 other Zeffirelli props; Saint Victor Catholic Church in West Hollywood bought it for $9,300 and, after restoration, hung it in its sanctuary.
