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 thetells 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.
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 reasonsis an important and very timely movie to see for various reasons,” NIAF President Robert Allegrini told me.
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.”As usual, the NIAF is the vanguard in promoting the recognition of the vast cultural achievements of people of Italian descent.