“We are bold, or we die. That is how I learned to live in America.”
This is a quote from Mother Francesca Cabrini displayed in the opening seconds of the trailer for Angel Studios’s new film, Cabrini. The words embody the bold and courageous spirit of Mother Cabrini herself, the directors and producers of the movie about her life, and the National Italian American Foundation, the cultural and heritage organization that helped finance the biopic.
Cabrini tells the captivating tale of the first citizen of the United States to be canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. Advertised as the “true story of an American hero,” it chronicles her courageous journey from an Italian immigrant arriving in New York City in the 19th century to her eventual rise to sainthood. Additionally, the movie portrays the harrowing reality of a part of American history that typically gets ignored: anti-Italian prejudice and discrimination.
It’s one of the few films to mention such bigotry, let alone include it as part of the cinematic plot of the obstacles the film’s protagonist must overcome. Bringing awareness to Cabrini’s story of perseverance and dedication to helping others in the face of unrelenting racial bigotry was one of the reasons the NIAF decided to help finance the film’s production.
“Cabrini is an important and very timely movie to see for various reasons,” NIAF President Robert Allegrini told me. “First, as immigration dominates the news, the film provides a glimpse into the horrible prejudice that legal Italian immigrants had to endure at the turn of the 20th century.”
As mentioned above, Cabrini brings this critical fact of the prejudice suffered by many Italians to light. Allegrini elaborated on the relative anonymity of this fact and why it was such a vital part of the film and arguably our nation’s history. He also discussed the monumental legacy Carbini had on female empowerment, another critical part of our nation’s contemporary culture.
“Not many Americans today are aware that this prejudice existed because, through hard work and a strong desire to add to the fabric of the nation, Italian Americans have today become a fully assimilated ethnic group like many groups that preceded them and others which have succeeded them,” Allegrini said. “Also, as female empowerment remains an important goal, the film shows the power of this determined Italian American woman who, through sheer grit and confidence in the righteousness of her work, went on to become one of this country’s first female CEOs, as well as, of course, the first American saint.”
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As usual, the NIAF is the vanguard in promoting the recognition of the vast cultural achievements of people of Italian descent. It spends countless hours and resources helping bring awareness to the magnificent worldwide contributions stemming from the Italian American diaspora. As such, the NIAF doesn’t have to heed Mother Carbini’s warning about boldness because it is usually paving the way for others to enjoy a 21st-century Italian American renaissance. The organization’s collaborative efforts and work on Cabrini are no different.
Cabrini’s story is one the world needs to hear, as is the story of the widespread rampant discrimination Italians endured. NIAF should be applauded for its efforts in having the courage to bring a story that encompasses both these subjects to audiences throughout the nation. Angel Studios should be commended for telling Mother Cabrini’s journey. Both should be praised for channeling Cabrini’s bold spirit in developing this film.