Chiara (2022)

Assisi, 1211. Chiara decides to leave her wealthy family, against her father’s wishes and in defiance of an arranged marriage, to embrace poverty and follow the mendicant order of her companion, Francesco di Pietro Bernardone, and his followers. At first, Chiara’s vocation is not understood. However, her modest demeanor and the miracles she performs without realizing it increase her renown among the women of Assisi and the surrounding area, who flock to the monastery. Francesco, returning from a journey to Egypt to visit the sultan, comes to see Chiara. Yet their relationship seems to have cooled since the Franciscan Rule was approved, which Chiara sees as a betrayal of what Francesco initially preached. As the man’s health declines, however, the two grow close again. After Francesco’s death, the Pope consents to the founding of an order of poor women led by Chiara, based at the church of San Damiano, provided that enclosure is included in its rule.