| St. Francis of Assisi |
It has been said that St. Francis of Assisi was perhaps the most unbalanced person in the history of Christianity. When I questioned
a Franciscan priest about the meaning of this statement he simply said that St. Francis was with God one hundred percent. It was
with that statement that I first viewed Francesco, a film with Mickey Rourke as St. Francis of Assisi (Francesco). I knew I was in
for a treat when I heard the first few moments of Vangelis' beautiful score.
a Franciscan priest about the meaning of this statement he simply said that St. Francis was with God one hundred percent. It was
with that statement that I first viewed Francesco, a film with Mickey Rourke as St. Francis of Assisi (Francesco). I knew I was in
for a treat when I heard the first few moments of Vangelis' beautiful score.
In the opening scenes we get a glimpse of Francesco's family life. He is playful, devoted to his family and to Assisi, the city where he
lived. When he is captured and imprisoned after the war with the neighboring province of Perusia, Francesco is introduced to the
Gospels by way of a translated copy belonging to another prisoner. We don't know the full effect of this introduction until after all of
the prisoners including Francesco are released.
lived. When he is captured and imprisoned after the war with the neighboring province of Perusia, Francesco is introduced to the
Gospels by way of a translated copy belonging to another prisoner. We don't know the full effect of this introduction until after all of
the prisoners including Francesco are released.
Mickey's portrayal of Francesco begins to develop from this point on. He becomes restless, not really knowing why. Chiara, who
will eventually become St. Clare of Assisi, calls him "confused as a child" and indeed he is. Francesco has been transformed,
bitten by the spirit of God. Mickey reveals this change in a deep and very subtle way. His commitment to his God is total and
without a word we feel the intensity of his new-found spirituality when he embraces the life size wooden cross of San Damiano, the
church which he almost single handedly rebuilds. Mickey is so immersed in this role that we forget he is not a medieval, short Italian.
Neither is he proclaiming any grand internal change or giving a show of religiosity. On the contrary, humility and a sense of purpose
lead him to a spiritual path that will eventually make Francesco the most popular saint in history.
will eventually become St. Clare of Assisi, calls him "confused as a child" and indeed he is. Francesco has been transformed,
bitten by the spirit of God. Mickey reveals this change in a deep and very subtle way. His commitment to his God is total and
without a word we feel the intensity of his new-found spirituality when he embraces the life size wooden cross of San Damiano, the
church which he almost single handedly rebuilds. Mickey is so immersed in this role that we forget he is not a medieval, short Italian.
Neither is he proclaiming any grand internal change or giving a show of religiosity. On the contrary, humility and a sense of purpose
lead him to a spiritual path that will eventually make Francesco the most popular saint in history.
One doesn't become humble overnight and cast off the life of security, status and wealth. Francesco achieves humility through the
love of his God. It is a gift. Humility does not mean weakness, in fact it is strength, but a different kind of strength -strength that
makes all things possible.
love of his God. It is a gift. Humility does not mean weakness, in fact it is strength, but a different kind of strength -strength that
makes all things possible.
As Francesco says in the film "We are the brothers without anything. We do not judge those who are above us. We have
chosen to be lower with nothing and therefore those without fear -free."
chosen to be lower with nothing and therefore those without fear -free."
Mickey, in a subtle, restrained, and brilliant performance took us through a range of emotions: Francesco's disappointment in his
unsettled, confrontational followers who wanted a more comfortable existence, his 'darkest hour' when he felt no one understood
him, that he might indeed be insane. And we felt his sense of love and joy when he discovers he carries the stigmata -the wounds of
Christ. We respect his determination to live the difficult life he has chosen in spite of the severest hardships, including near starvation,
illness, and blindness.
unsettled, confrontational followers who wanted a more comfortable existence, his 'darkest hour' when he felt no one understood
him, that he might indeed be insane. And we felt his sense of love and joy when he discovers he carries the stigmata -the wounds of
Christ. We respect his determination to live the difficult life he has chosen in spite of the severest hardships, including near starvation,
illness, and blindness.
Throughout the film Mickey is entirely convincing and believable. I have not yet seen another Mickey Rourke film where he wraps
his heart and soul around a role in quite this way. There was the same gentleness that was apparent in Rumble Fish, Diner, and The
Pope of Greenwich Village. But his range of emotions in Francesco and his interaction with the remarkable cast made this film
outstanding. As I said in an earlier review of this film, it is not a religious film, it is a story of choice, determination, transformation,
and love.
his heart and soul around a role in quite this way. There was the same gentleness that was apparent in Rumble Fish, Diner, and The
Pope of Greenwich Village. But his range of emotions in Francesco and his interaction with the remarkable cast made this film
outstanding. As I said in an earlier review of this film, it is not a religious film, it is a story of choice, determination, transformation,
and love.
| This character synopsis was written by DeeDee feedback is greatly appreciated. |
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