46 - L'AMI FRANÇOIS D'ASSISSE ET SES FRÈRES

In 13th century Italy, the humble fraternal life of friar/preacher Francis of Assisi fascinates and disturbs the powerful Italian Church. Intensely supported by his communal brothers, Francis struggles to convey his vision of an egalitarian and peaceful world. The film recounts the lives of Saint Francis of Assisi and his confrere Elias de Cortona, between 1209 and 1226, as both shield their fraternity of idealistic monks from threats of rejection by a reactionary Church. Francis, ultimately canonized in 1228, becomes associated with the patronage of animals and the natural world. He is one of the most venerated religious figures in history. The film was beautifully-shot in Occitanie, at Abbaye de Fontfroide and Chapelle d’Aumelas.