: Rossellini portrays the brothers not as somber saints, but as "holy innocents" who romp through the mud, give away their clothes, and preach with a "Zen-like calm" that defies social norms. A Non-Narrative "Deep Story"
: In the finale, Francis instructs his followers to spin like children until they fall; whichever direction they face upon landing is where they must go to preach. notes on film & restoration Francesco, giullare di Dio
: A pivotal moment of spiritual transformation occurs when Francis overcomes his intense loathing to embrace a leper, signifying his total surrender to God's love. : Rossellini portrays the brothers not as somber
Rather than a standard biography, the film is a series of nine vignettes drawn from the 14th-century Little Flowers of St. Francis . give away their clothes