Sneak peek of ‘Cabrini’ movie hits home with Nebraskans of Italian heritage, other immigrants

OMAHA — Sarita Ruma has spent decades in and around the historic brick church named after St. Frances Cabrini in the Little Italy enclave south of downtown Omaha.

She’s attended weddings, festivals and worship services there. She’s heard the neighborhood lore — that the parish namesake herself, Frances Cabrini, walked up the hill from the train stop to pray in the Spanish Mission style building that later would be rededicated in her honor. 

But until a recent local sneak peek of the movie “Cabrini,” Ruma said, she hadn’t grasped how little she really knew about the tenacious Italian missionary who stood up to power, elected officials, even the Pope to improve circumstances for poor U.S. immigrants.

“I didn’t know the extent of her strength and dedication — it just never stopped,” said Ruma, a pacesetter in her own right, being the first woman president of the local Sons and Daughters of Italy lodge. 

Ties to Little Italy

Ruma joined about 130 area residents who were invited Jan. 25 to a private pre-screening of the Cabrini movie at the Marcus Twin Creek Theater in Bellevue. Many there had ties to the local Cabrini parish or the Italian-American community yet, like Ruma, learned new aspects of the immigrant patroness and businesswoman who was canonized in 1946 as the first U.S. citizen saint. 

Set to open March 8 on International Women’s Day, the movie follows the journey of Francesca Xavier Cabrini who, with six of her missionary sisters, traveled west into the slums of late 19th-century New York City. 

As their leader, Mother Cabrini (played by Italian actress Cristiana Dell’Anna) overcame sexism, discrimination and violence to establish an orphanage and hospital for the newcomers to America.

The movie scenes don’t capture all the years of her life, and focuses on New York City, but she went on to establish a charitable empire of 67 schools and other institutions across the globe.

Much of Cabrini’s work was done in Chicago and Denver, which likely is why, according to local church historical reports, that her diaries had her stopping in between at the Omaha train station and apparently strolling the few blocks to what now is the church that bears her name.

Local organizers of the film preview said they appreciated the advance look. Moreover, they expect hoopla surrounding the based-on-a-true-story movie to shine light on a local Italian-American community that is already working on other projects to stir cultural pride. 

“It all helps promote the Italian heritage that is so rich in Omaha and that we’re trying to hang on to,” said Sheri Kanger, area coordinator of the National Italian American Foundation. Kanger also co-founded a local group pursuing a formal Italian sister city connection with Carlentini, which is expected to bring bicultural trade and educational partnerships. 

Rekindles memories

For Omahan Marie Losole, watching the movie rekindled her own childhood memories of running the streets and stealing food in Calabria, Italy, before she was placed in an orphanage in Rome in 1952.

The former Fiorella Maria Rotella, of the now-closed Lo Sole Mio restaurant, said she’ll be taking her children and grandchildren to see the film.

“This movie was inspiring, moving and a powerful example of what one person can do,” Losole said.

For Carmelita de la Guardia, born in Italy and now an Omaha entertainer and entrepreneur, the discussion sparked personal memories of what she considers a “Cabrini miracle.”

Her toddler daughter was struck by disease and in 1979 fell into a coma. De la Guardia said doctors told her nothing more could be done.

A nurse gave her a photo and relic of Cabrini, which she laid next to her daughter and prayed for an intercession, de la Guardia said during a post-movie Q and A session. Her daughter Daniela soon opened her eyes and lives a healthy life today.

Few know her name

Joann Crinklaw, who helped coordinate the preview, was among those who see the Cabrini storyline extending beyond Catholics or a single heritage. She sees it tapping into the interest of a variety of faiths and immigrant backgrounds.

“Movies like this make people more hungry for knowledge of their stories, what their ancestors went through to get here,” Crinklaw said.

The Rev. Damian Zuerlein, pastor of Omaha’s St. Frances Cabrini parish and school, agrees with the film’s executive producer, Eustace Wolfington — that despite the saint’s wide and profound impact, few know her name. 

“The vast majority of people don’t know her story at all, and even parishioners here don’t know it well,” Zuerlein said.

Even Zuerlein was unaware that Cabrini at one point broke into the all-male Italian Senate, shaming aldermen into helping their country’s suffering immigrants. The scene was depicted in the movie, based upon an old newspaper article a nun revealed to the production team during research for the movie.

Zuerlein said the historical drama contains messages relevant today. He noted, for example, Cabrini’s battle against the treatment of immigrants as discardable.

One line in the movie has the nun telling the Italian Senate: “At the hour of our death, we will all be asked one question: What did we do for the sick, for the homeless, for those stripped of dignity? What did we do?”

During a different point in the movie, she says: “We are all human beings. We are all the same.” 

‘Go for it’

Ruma, 68 and an Omaha mental health therapist, was impressed at the movie’s focus on an immigrant woman who led fiercely yet compassionately while building a multinational charity. She believes that the spotlight on Cabrini will spill into the local community and inspire young women.

Elizabeth Troia, 16, is the reigning queen of the Santa Lucia Festival, which is celebrated at St. Frances Cabrini Church. During the preview, she sat in the front row with her sister Gina, soaking up the determination theme.

The Mercy High student said she was struck at how Cabrini confronted “all levels of discrimination.” She was fascinated with the protagonist’s entrepreneurial efforts to raise funds by organizing an Italian festival. 

Troia left the theater brimming with thoughts about how the movie and its messages might be spread to other teens and classmates. 

Ruma recalled getting a “chill” from a Cabrini line in the movie — I am a woman and I am Italian — and thinks it will embolden others.

“It doesn’t come any stronger as a message to young women to ‘Go for it,’ ” Ruma said.