Francesco is a historical drama about the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. Directed and co-written by Liliana Cavani in 1989, it stars Mickey Rourke as Francis and Helena Bonham Carter as Clare, who is destined for sainthood. The screenplay is based on Hermann Hesse’s 1904 novel Francis of Assisi, with music composed by Vangelis.
The film is the second installment in Cavani’s trilogy on Saint Francis, preceded by a 1966 television film and followed by a 2014 production. It won three awards and received one additional nomination.
Using a flashback structure, the film traces Francis’s journey from a wealthy young man to a spiritual figure devoted to the poor, ultimately becoming a model of sanctity. Raised in privilege, he goes to war but returns deeply changed, shaken by the brutality of society. In a key scene, he renounces his wealth by stripping naked in front of his father and leaving home to live among lepers and beggars. The story unfolds through non-linear episodes, culminating in his final years when Francis receives the stigmata, symbol of his identification with Christ’s suffering.