FRATELLO SOLE, SORELLA LUNA

Biography

Director’s Notes — Piero Maccarinelli

The text, adapted for the stage by Angela Demattè from the screenplay of the film by Franco Zeffirelli, focuses on the early years of Francis — from his life as the son of a wealthy merchant to his experience as a young soldier at war and his discovery of spirituality, as well as the conflicts this transformation generates with his parents and friends.
Running parallel is the journey of Clare, who accompanies Francis in the rebuilding of the humble church of San Damiano.
Their path is challenging for both, shaped by the expectations of their affluent families, the authority of a powerful clergy, and the gradual easing of their friends’ skepticism, which eventually gives way to acceptance of the Franciscan vision.
Doubts and anxieties weigh heavily on Francis, who remains opposed until the very end by his childhood friend Paolo.
A decisive moment comes with Francis’s encounter with the Pope in Rome, where he finds comfort — and even Paolo’s eventual support.
This is a story of young people searching for values different from those of their parents and their social class.
It is a story about the pursuit of serene happiness.
Our production does not aim at a strictly philological reconstruction, but rather at a complex act of love for this story.