Cabrini movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Cabrini

This powerful, gorgeous film premieres in theaters on March 8, 2024.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 2 hours 25 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE:

IN A NUTSHELL:

This powerful movie is based on the remarkable true story about an Italian nun who helped the abandoned children in New York City during the turn of the century. The film was directed by Alejandro Monteverde. He also co-wrote it with Rod Barr. I was incredibly impressed with his work and can’t wait to see what he does next. He would be just the director to tackle a biopic about Florence Nightingale, the mother of nursing, often called “The Lady of the Lamp.”

Before the movie begins, the director shares a message about why he connected so much with the script. He explains that he, like the featured woman in the film, were both immigrants to the United States: she from Italy and he from Mexico. The film shows us text on the screen that tells us between 1889 and 1910, over two million Italians immigrated to the United States.

THINGS I LIKED:

Angel Studios is completely changing how films are made and distributed now. They are preselling tickets and giving away free tickets before a movie even premieres to show theaters that there is a demand to show their films. The Angel Guild is a group of over 200,000 people that helps drive movie culture. Members choose which movies to launch next, as well as receive a variety of other perks. To join the guild, go to www.angel.com
One of the founders of Angel Studios stated this is not a cinematic movie but a cinematic painting and masterpiece. The direction is truly fantastic. Almost every frame could be an artistic painting in a museum. Stunning.
If you thought the movie Barbie showed everyone what a strong woman was like, watch this! It’s fascinating that they chose Shania Twain’s song “I Feel Like a Woman” to be featured in the movie trailer.
The effective set design and costumes immediately take us back to the turn of the century.
The musical score and silence are perfect and allow us to feel the emotion of the moment.
The cast is superb and includes a breakthrough performance of Cristiana Dell’Anna as Cabrini. She shows both grit and grace, truly bringing this historic woman to life for all of us to get to know.
Also in the cast are the fantastic John Lithgow, David Morse, Giancarlo Giannini, and more.
We get to travel to Italy for some of the scenes. I adore Italy and have been there several times.
Fantastic cinematography by Gorka Gomez Andreu.
Perfect ending. We get to see photos of the real people involved in the events of the movie, as well as learn about the huge charitable empire Cabrini built across the globe. What an inspiration she was to millions of people. She is the first American saint, as well as the patron saint of all immigrants. She asked us all, “What kind of world do we want and what will we do to achieve it?”

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The movie is simply too long to say what it needs to say. That being said, every scene is really great, so it would be difficult to know where to cut!
It was distracting when the lips didn’t quite match up with the audio when the opera singer sang.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

We hear Italian spoken while we read subtitles at the bottom of the screen for the first 19 minutes of the movie. Then, it alternates between English and Italian.
We meet a prostitute.
A child shoots a gun.
Smoking
We see people die.
Some negative words are used to describe immigrants

THEMES:

We have the power to make positive changes in the world
Service to others
Sacrifice
Women who made a difference
Survivors
Human dignity
Caring for orphans
Bigotry toward immigrants
Faith in God to do the impossible
Poverty

FUNNY LINES:

“For one little woman, you make a lot of noise.” – Pope Leo XIII (Giancarlo Giannini)
“Well, on behalf of the mayor, I promise you that this is the last time New York will ever see an Italian festival.” – Mr. Jenkins This is a funny line because I’ve personally been to the fun “Feast of San Gennaro” in New York City! It’s a famous, annual event that features music, entertainment, and food from Italy! The tentative dates set for 2024 are September 12 – 22.
“It’s a shame you’re a woman. You would have made a good man.” – Mayor Gould (John Lithgow)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Stay where you belong, Mother.” – Archbishop talking to Cabrini
“The world is too small for what I intend to do.” – Cabrini (Cristiana Dell’Anna)
“We can serve our weakness or we can serve our purpose, not both.” – Cabrini
“The children deserve the best. They will notice.” – Cabrini
“There will be a time when I’m away. That’s why you have to learn to face your fears, to not just carry on, but to lead and to demonstrate you can do all things.” – Cabrini
“This is a beautiful place to live. Now we need to fill it with children.” – Cabrini
“Be careful, Mother, or this place will eat you alive.” – New York lazy priest
“It takes a lot of courage to become who we’re meant to be.” – Cabrini
“We don’t get to choose how we come into this world, but God gave us the freedom to choose how we live in it.” – Cabrini
“Every time I work, I seem to be able to steal one more day of life. If I rest, however, that’s when dying feels very, very real.” – Cabrini
“If anyone could make a go of it, it would be you.” – Dr. Murphy (Patch Darragh)
“We are all human beings. We are all the same: children of God.” – Cabrini
“We are bold or we die.” – Cabrini
“Good men don’t lie to nuns.” – Cabrini