MovieChat Forums > Fratello sole, sorella luna (1972) Discussion > Your favorite quote(s) from the movie?

Your favorite quote(s) from the movie?

posted 18 years ago by marcin_kukuczka
11 replies | jump to latest

As a matter of fact, the film has lots of memorable profound quotes that should be mentioned here. Yet, there are five which have had such an impact on me that I will never forget them. It refers, of course, not to songs but to script.

I.
Pope Innocent III to Francesco: "We are entrusted by riches and power; you, in your poverty, put us to shame."

II.
Paolo: "You just saunter out of your house one fine morning and pluck God out of the air as easily as catching a butterfly. It's all too simple!"

Francesco: "If what you say is true then the Holy Father will point out errors in my faith"

Paolo: "The pope???"

III.
Francesco: "...God is my only judge"

Consul: "Unfortunately, He is not here to help us now. Why not go to bishop Guido, mm?"

IV.
Pietro di Bernardone: "I followed your advice, Francesco, to the very letter. I bought and bought and bought and now, we prosper! I may curse the war because of what it did to you but for business, war was a blessing"

V.
Bernardo di Quintavalle: "What could I say to the emperor, Francesco?"
Francesco: "What could you say? (...) Otto of Brunswick! Let the winds of heaven blow out your empty palaces. What good is your life if the riches do not bring you peace of mind and your people starve"

Worth consideration is also Bishop Guido's reaction to accusations against Francesco and his friars: "They are restoring a consecrated ruin for love. Is that a crime?

If someone tells me that the movie lacks spirituality, I may argue because I think that the script is really great and profound.

What do you think? What quote(s) caught your attention most? Or was it perhaps something that I haven't mentioned above...Any comments appreciated.

[–] k-terasawa 18 years ago

Hi Marcin:

Yes those quotes you mention are very powerful especially Pope's and Francesco's statement to the emperor Otto Brunswick.

I also like another quote of the Pope, "Because of our obsession with the original sin, we often forget the original innocence."

Also I like Francesco’s spiritual guidance to Bernard, saying, “Oh come to become a living stone onto the spiritual temple.”

I also like Francesco’s kind of pastoral care for Giocondo’s sexual temptation, saying, “If everyone practices chastity, human race will end, ‘Be fruitful, multiply.’ (it maynot be exact)

talk to you soon
Kuni

[–] tonyg_au 18 years ago

My favorite quotes in Brother Sun and Sister Moon...

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

[–] timothyhodge 17 years ago

"If we all took a vow of chastity, the human race would end." - Francesco

[–] spasek 17 years ago

"In our obsession with original sin, we too often forget about original innocence."--Pope Innocent III

[–] thewholeview 15 years ago

"Oh God, Make me an instrument of your peace"

[–] milliedil 13 years ago

I'm not asking to be loved ... I want to love!

Please, let me find joy!

"Thank you, thank you--you're most kind. In fact you're every kind."

[–] mel-holden 13 years ago

This movie is in my Top Ten faves

"This is my death mask" is always really powerful to me when I watch it

And his old self did die in that war - and a new life emerged, like a butterfly that enters into the darkness where a transformation occurs, the old drops away and a new, free spirit emerges

'Angels fly because they take themselves lightly' - while not a quote from this movie, could definitely describe it

- - - - -

"Yes, lepers" - Clare.

The look in his face, of fear and revulsion, priceless.
The calm, matter of fact, open eyed look on her face - also priceless.

- - - - -
Much of what I like about this movie is so much is conveyed extremely well without words. When in the snow, Francesco is barefoot, building the church, his friend comes to find him, plead with him, and the friend looks around at the place and you can just see the impact his happy friend has on him.

And the scene where Francesco gives up his family, and his clothes in the courtyard, and is given an exquisite, heavy robe, Francesco caresses it, then looks around, finds a poor person, gives it to him, then boldly walks nakedly away from the life he knew

That speaks volumes

[–] ruthmcgorty 13 years ago

My favorite quote is:
"Words Bernardo, words...there was a time when I believed in words..."
Francesco

[–] lukn4frnz 12 years ago

No! No! a quiet 'no'

You could see the inner struggle that was happening within him, then finally he let go of that which no longer fit him, and it was with much peacefulness that he said 'no' - I think this was when he was standing up to the way his father wanted him to live.

[–] apme1968 11 years ago

“If the purpose of life is this loveless toil we fill our days with, then it's not for me. There must be something better. There has to be”.
They might be my own words, for sure.
Greetings

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

Father! I wanna share the joy with you. Our treasures are in heaven not here on earth, don't be a slave of these! Throw it all away! Do as I do, it's so simple, be free!

That poor father! I could almost forgive him for resorting to violence, as his loopy son tossed all Dad's merchandise out the window.