Dan Miau

I saw this film in the early 1980’s as a teenager and it had a real impact on me that few films have ever affected me so strongly. Donovan’s songs are probably the best he’s ever written. An extraordinary collaboration with the filmmaker. Critics tend to dismiss this film but I think what the director was trying to achieve here was difficult and unusual with almost no dialogue. And he pulls it off. The acting is really good. Maybe a bit of overacting but on the whole the guy who played st Francis was incredible. The cameo by Alec Guinness as the pope was absolutely touching and creates an unexpected yet subtle ending to an extraordinary film