To mark the 165th anniversary of the Unification of Italy and the start of the celebrations for the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Italian Embassy in Bern is promoting a special screening of the film “Fratello sole, sorella luna” (Brother Sun, Sister Moon) by Franco Zeffirelli.
The event will take place on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 at 8.00 pm in several Swiss cities, giving the audience the opportunity to rediscover one of the masterpieces of Italian cinema dedicated to the figure of Italy’s patron saint. The screening, lasting 135 minutes, will be in English with Italian subtitles.
The film tells the story of Francis of Assisi, the son of a wealthy merchant, whose life changes radically after the experience of the war between Perugia and Assisi. Deeply marked, during his convalescence he discovers the poverty and suffering around him, choosing to renounce material goods to embrace a life of simplicity and charity. Having withdrawn to the small church of San Damiano, he begins a journey that will lead him to found a community based on spiritual values, despite the incomprehension and opposition of the authorities and society of the time.
The screenings will take place simultaneously at the following venues:
