2015-2016
With this portrait, I pay tribute to brother Nazario Gerardi who played the character of St Francis of Assisi in Roberto Rosselini’s film « The Eleven Fioretti » produced in 1950. All the actors, except for Aldo Fabrizi and Arabello Lemaitre , who played the characters of Nicholas the tyrant and Saint Claire respectively were not professional actors, but monks from the convent in Maiori.
A magnificent cinematographic panegyric in favor of brotherly love, the film encountered a limited success when released in 1950.
In 1969, Rosselini explained in an interview that his film had been misunderstood by moviegoers.
Personally, I believe you have to be touched by grace to fathom the irresistible power of innocency and love.