A One Mann’s Movies review of “Cabrini” (2024).
When my two Flickering Dreams colleagues, Andy Godfrey and Scott Forbes, BOTH gave “Cabrini” an unusual 10/10 score, I made it my mission to find a showing. Not easy, as it seems to be on very limited release. But I found it on show in “Everyman” and was so glad I did. Extraordinary stuff.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
In a remarkable true story, it’s 1889 and the highly driven nun Mother Cabrini implores the Pope to let her go on a mission – the first ever by a female – to do good in China. The Pope refuses, but allows her to take her team and go to do good works in New York for the struggling immigrant Italian population. What she finds there horrifies her and sets her on a life-long struggle against the patriarchy and discrimination.
Certification:
UK: 12; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Moderate violence, discrimination, language, injury detail, sex references”.)
Talent:
Starring: Cristiana Dell’Anna, John Lithgow, David Morse, Giancarlo Giannini, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Virginia Bocelli, Liam Campora, Federico Ielapi.
Directed by: Alejandro Monteverde.
Written by: Rod Barr. (Based on a story by Rod Barr & Alejandro Monteverde.)
Twitter Handle: #CabriniFilm.
Running Time: 2h 22m.
Cabrini (Cristiana Dell’Anna) consoling a grieving Paulo (Federico Ielapi). (Source: Angel Studios).
“Cabrini” Review:
Positives:
- Besides anything else, this is a cracking good watch. The true story of this remarkable woman who simply refuses to take “no” for an answer is a truly inspiring tale. This is a long film (at 142 minutes) but it never felt a long film… I was totally engaged with the story.
- The sense of time and place for 19th Century New York is simply extraordinary. The production design is first rate. The cinematography (by the Spaniard) Gorka Gómez Andreu is superb, with beautiful framing of the shots and delicate blends of light and shade. And there are a host of extras on screen to really bring the film to life.
- The struggle of Cabrini against the ‘system’ makes for a gripping story. The dismissal by the male-dominated administration (led by John Lithgow’s scheming Mayor Gould) against Cabrini as a woman is understandable, given the time period. But it seems extraordinary to me, given that virtually the whole country was comprised of ‘immigrants’, that there should be such hatred of the Italian population. What she did against all the odds and her personal struggle against illness was amazing. A real case-study of female empowerment.
- The closing titles feature a song – “Dare to Be” – by Andrea Bocelli and his daughter Virginia (who also acts in the film). It’s terrific. If “Cabrini” is eligible for this year’s Oscars, then this should make the Best Song list.
- Cristiana Dell’Anna does a superb job in the titular role. A final shout out to the child actors Federico Ielapi as Paolo and Liam Campora as Enzo who both do a great job.
Negatives:
- I have nothing here.
John Lithgow as Mayor Gould glowers through his bushy bushy beard. (Source: Angel Studios).
Summary Thoughts on “Cabrini”
This is a curious film to come out of Angel Studios and the writer/director team of Rod Barr and
Alejandro Monteverde. Their last film was the controversial “Sound of Freedom“, slammed as being full of macho male characters, far-right views and false analysis of child-sex-trafficking practices. It defied expectations though and with a clever ‘pay it forwards’ gimmick over the end titles (tried again with this film) went on to a $250K worldwide gross. “Cabrini” almost feels like the anti-dote to that controversy: left-leaning politics (all the politicians and business-men are the villains) and vehemently women-centric.
But I urge you to try and seek it out in cinemas, for it is a spectacularly impressive movie. It seems to be only on a very limited release in the UK, (I saw it at “Everyman” cinemas, but only with a few showings a week). This strikes me as a crime! It deserves a much broader release.
I’m uncertain as to whether this movie fell into last year’s Oscar crop (and was cruelly ignored) or whether it is eligible for next year’s awards. I hope the latter. And I hope it gets some nominations.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Cabrini:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuFkt3w-7kI .
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