“Not even a king can change the hearts of men.”
Synopsis: Imagine being threatened with being beheaded all because you walk into a sultan’s army camp unnoticed and requested an introduction. That’s what happened to Father Francesco when he went to try to stop a war.
Francesco | The Sultan, the Saint & the Power of Faith focuses on the power of faith, humility, and peace, using the incredible story of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Sultan of Egypt to illustrate the importance of these virtues. During the time of the Crusades, two men from different religions meet, and one learns to respect the other’s beliefs.
The inspiring storyline that runs throughout the movie about compassion and forgiveness is one of its best qualities. It takes courage for Saint Francis (Alexander McPherson) to approach the Sultan Al-Kamil (Zack Beyer) in the midst of violence and threats. Their interaction reminds us that even people of vastly different beliefs can discover common ground when we genuinely try to communicate, care for, and respect one another.
The animation captures the story in a fun and easy way for audiences to understand. The historical characters and location give audience members an understanding of how hard it was for the prophet to search for peace during the warfare, and the theme of spirituality can help viewers to examine their own belief and treatment of others of diverse cultures and religions.
The core message of the film is ultimately its most redeeming feature. Because of its focus on faith, bravery and human dignity, it can be very meaningful to a family or to an audience seeking a story that is based in faith and history.
“Francesco | The Sultan, the Saint & the Power of Faith“ released on March 28, 2026, is 30 min long. Can be seen on Apple TV and Netflix if you have a subscription or on YouTube for free.
Director: Alexander Kronemer
Writer: Alexander Kronemer
Stars: Alexander McPherson, Zack Beyer, and veteran actor Jeremy Irons as narrarator.
We give Francesco | The Sultan, the Saint & the Power of Faith
Francesco, a film to watch on family movie night, is a beautiful animated movie that will both make you think and make you smile. It has a powerful message for our world today. Genuine faith should lead to love and humility; not to hate and division. It’s definitely worth a watch on family movie night. Please don’t shut the movie off at the end because there are some very good history lessons to be had.
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