“Cabrini” is an uplifting, emotionally-charged, historical biography well worth seeing.

The movie begins in 1889 when Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini (Cristiana Dell’Anna) emigrates with five other nuns to the United States to start an orphanage in the Five Points area of New York City.

Mother Cabrini has the support of Pope Leo XIII (Giancarlo Giannini). Her plans are resisted by Catholic Archbishop Corrigan (David Morse), concerned about tensions believed to be from an influx of Italian immigrants.

Mother Cabrini also meets with opposition from Mayor Gould (John Lithgow), who has city building code enforcement officials, police officers and public opinion on his side.

She also had to manage the anger of a young boy, Paolo (Federico Ielapi), an orphan) who shoots a pimp with a gun when he threatens a prostitute. The pimp, who was crippled by the shooting, later attacks the prostitute, Vittoria (Romana Maggiora Vergano), who defends herself to the death of the pimp.

At times, the movie plays out like a non-musical “The Threepenny Opera,” by Brtolt Brecht, which opened in 1928 in Berlin.

Mother Cabrini apparently had God on her side. She sets up orphanages and a hospital to serve the underserved. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, establishing orphanages worldwide.

Mother Cabrini died at age 67 and was canonized, becoming the first American naturalized citizen saint, the Patron Saint of Immigrants.

Cabrini University, Radnor Township, founded in 1957 by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was named for Mother Cabrini.

Because of a decline in enrollment and financial challenges, Cabrini University is closing after the 2024 Spring semester. Villanova University and Cabrini University reached an agreement for Villanova to assume ownership of the Cabrini campus after the 2023-24 academic year.

“Cabrini” the movie is anchored by a stunning Oscar-nominee worthy performance by Italian actress Cristiana Dell’Anna (“Toscana,” 2022; “The King of Laughter,” 2021). Dell’Anna is absolutely riveting in every scene, with slightly tilted head, luminous large eyes and impassive face that rivals the screen greats of the Golden Age of Cinema.

Excellent in supporting roles are Romana Maggiora Vergano (Vittoria, a prostitute), Federico Ielapi (Paolo, an orphan) Rolando Villazón (DiSalvo, opera singer) and Jeremy Bobb (Theodore Calloway, New York Times reporter).

“Cabrini” director Alejandro Monteverde (Director, “Sound of Freedom,” 2023) handles the often-controversial material sensitively and respectfully, moving the story along in an efficient and extraordinary manner. Rod Barr (screenwriter, “Sound of Freedom”) wrote the screenplay from a story he cowrote with Monteverde.

The cinematography by Gorka Gómez Andreu is imbued with sepia tones, backlighing and beams of golden hues.

The production design by Carlos Lagunas is beautiful and believable.

The music by Gene Back is appropriately soaring and operatic.

“Cabrini” the movie could not be more timely as nations worldwide, including the United States, struggle with the issue of immigration.

“Cabrini,”

MPAA rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.) for thematic material, some violence, language and smoking; Genre: Biography, Drama; Run time: 2 hours, 22 minutes. Distributed by Angel Studios.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“Cabrini” was filmed in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Rome, Italy, in 2021. The end credits include “Dare to Be,” sung by Andrea Bocelli and Virginia Bocelli. The end credits include a QR Code for those who wish to “pay if forward” for others to see the film.

At The Movies:

“Cabrini” was seen in the standard format at AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office,

March 29-31: “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” stomped to No. 1, opening with a better-than expected $80 million in 3,861 theaters, as “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” dropped from its one-week at No. 1 to No. 2 with $15.7 million in 4,345 theaters, $73.4 million, two weeks.

3. “Dune: Part Two” dropped one place, $11.1 million in 3,136 theaters, $252.3 million, five weeks. 4. “Kung Fu Panda 4” dropped one place, $10.2 million in 3,582 theaters, $151.6 million, four weeks. 5. “Immaculate” dropped one place, $3.2 million in 2,362 theaters, $11.1 million, two weeks. 6. “Arthur the King” dropped one place, $2.4 million in 2,525 theaters, $19 million, three weeks. 7. “Late Night with the Devil” stayed in place, $2.2 million in 1,442 theaters, $6.2 million, two weeks. 8. “Tillu Square,” an India Telugu-language romantic crime comedy, opening, $1.8 million in 450 theaters. 9. “Crew,” an India Hindi-language heist comedy film, opening, $1.5 million in 486 theaters. 10. “Imaginary” dropped two places, $1.4 million in 1,956 theaters, $26.2 million, four weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of March 31 is subject to change.

Unreel,

April 5:

“The First Omen,”

R: Arkasha Stevenson directs Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sonia Braga, Charles Dance and Bill Nighy in the Horror film. A young woman goes to Rome to become a nun.

“Wicked Little Letters,”

R: Thea Sharrock directs Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Timothy Spall, Gemma Jones and Richard Goulding in the Comedy, Crime, Drama. People in Littlehampton, Ireland, receive insulting letters.

“Coup de Chance,”

PG-13: Woody Allen directs Lou de Laâge, Melvil Poupaud, Niels Schneider, Anna Laik and Valérie Lemercier in the Comedy, Crime, Drama. Two young people get mixed up with each other and crime.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of March 31 is subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes