Movielogr
Francis of Assisi (1966)
Directed by Liliana Cavani
Overview
Cavani made her first full-length feature film in 1966 with Francis of Assisi (Francesco d’Assisi). Made for television and aired in two parts, it was deeply influenced by the style of Rossellini and the atmosphere typical of the films of Pasolini. Made in a period of political unrest, it was to become a kind of manifesto of dissenting Catholicism. Starring Lou Castel, it portrays Francis of Assisi as a slightly depressed protestor and an avid, albeit mad, supporter of armed brotherhood. The ideal defender of the 1968 student movement. The film was a great success, but also triggered many negative reactions. It was called “heretical, blasphemous and offensive for the faith of the Italian people”. It was the first of many polemical reactions to Cavani’s work.
Length 134 minutes
Actors
Lou Castel | Giancarlo Sbragia | Maria Grazia Marescalchi | Mino Bellei | Marcello Formica | Roberto Di Massimo | Giampiero Fondini | Gerig Domain | John Karlsen | Gianni Turillazzi | Marco Bellocchio | Kenneth Belton | Riccardo Bernardini | Giuseppe Campodifiori | Riccardo Cucciolla | Ludmila Lvova