Cabrini screening - Cristiana Dell'Anna
/
4:53
/
MP4
/
359.6 MB
Download

Edited News | UNOG

Cabrini screening - Cristiana Dell'Anna

'Cabrini' film lead and Gomorrah star Cristiana Dell’Anna travelled to Geneva on Friday to highlight the age-old dangers confronting migrants – and the astonishing Italian missionary who travelled to New York City's slums at the turn of the last century, determined to protect them.

“Being from southern Italy, the migration issue is very close to my heart. Southern Italians have always emigrated throughout history, especially during the Second World War and I have in my family people who have emigrated and I am an emigrant myself,” Ms. Dell’Anna said, ahead of a special screening of her film at the Palace of Nations in the Swiss city.

Inspired by the true story of Italian nun, Mother Francesca Cabrini, who Pope Leo XIII tasked with helping vulnerable migrants arriving in the United States at the turn of the last century, her gripping account offers an uncomfortable perspective on the discrimination and racism reserved for impoverished and dark-skinned Italian migrants yet to learn English in the already booming city – where Italian street children are denigrated as “monkeys”.

Painfully accurate

“It is very accurate – in fact, this one particular shot I'm thinking of, of some children, sitting on just by a little wall - it's inspired by a picture that was taken during those times,” Ms. Dell’Anna said.

“So, it is very accurate and everything you see in the movie’s actually happened at some point.”

Despite serious lifelong sickness and with the help of other Italian nuns and volunteers in the notorious and often dangerous Five Points slum, Mother Cabrini took in orphans, fed, clothed and educated them.

She was canonized for her work in 1946 – the first US citizen to be made a saint.

“We've forgotten how to be inspired and I just think that Cabrini could very much aid that idea because it's a true story, it's a very compelling one,” Ms. Dell’Anna told UN News at the event, co-organized by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the Permanent Mission of Italy and the Permanent Observer of the Holy See.

“And I just thought that starting a dialogue in that sense and being here, it could be a good starting point to maybe try and ground again certain ideas, or ideals and principles that should be our guidance through our daily life for everyone.”

Trading places

She added: “I often ask myself, ‘Where does the migrant stand today in a world where we - it's easier to trade merchandise and it's easy for things to travel around the world rather than human beings?’ We should probably reflect on these issues and understand where we place humankind compared to objects.”

Latest UN estimates indicate that there are at least 281 million international migrants around the world, a number that has increased over the past five decades, with people continuing to move from their homelands driven by poverty, conflict and climate change.

To accept the divisive and hateful rhetoric that this age-old phenomenon continues to generate is to forget our humanity, Ms. Dell’Anna maintains.

“I think we should probably learn a lesson from this movie: migrants are not really doing well, especially in southern Italy, in the whole country, I'm afraid to say. The way we treat migrants has changed radically and they've become more of a threat rather than an integral part of society.”

Dignified approach

Thanks to a painstakingly researched backstory that covers the arc of Mother Cabrini’s life and campaigning work in rural northern Italy to her struggles against authority – and rank hostility in New York, Cabrini “gives us an opportunity – gave me an opportunity - to tell a little bit of what we went through when we were the ones migrating. Now, we are the ones actually denying the right of dignity, which in my opinion, is a universal right and should be recognized as such”, Ms. Dell’Anna explained.

Asked what Mother Cabrini herself might have made of the film depicting her mission, with its sumptuous and at times soul-destroying cinematography, Ms. Dell’Anna replied confidently: “She would be really pleased that we are telling the story. Not because of her, but because of the other huge main character that is in the story, which is the migrant.

“She’d be really pleased, because this is a very pertinent and contemporary issue…she was very pragmatic [so] she probably would say something like, ‘Press on.’”

TRT: 04’53”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 17 January 2025 – UN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
RESTRICTIONS: NONE



SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley.
  2. Exterior medium-wide, Cabrini lead actress Cristiana Dell’Anna walking with Daniel Johnson from UNTV Geneva in flag alley.
  3. Exterior wide, Cristiana Dell’Anna with Daniel Johnson in flag alley.
  4. Exterior medium-wide, Cristiana Dell’Anna with Daniel Johnson in flag alley.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristiana Dell’Anna: “Being from southern Italy, the migration issue is very close to my heart. Southern Italians have always emigrated throughout history, especially during the Second World War and I have in my family people who have emigrated and I am an emigrant myself.”
  6. Wide, Cristiana Dell’Anna walking past UN Palace of Nations under renovation with Daniel Johnson.
  7. Medium-wide, Cristiana Dell’Anna walking inside grounds of UN Palace of Nations with Daniel Johnson.
  8. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristiana Dell’Anna: “This movie gives us an opportunity – gave me an opportunity - to tell a little bit of what we went through when we were the ones migrating and now we are the ones actually denying the right of dignity, which in my opinion, is a universal right and should be recognized as such.”
  9. Medium-wide, Cristiana Dell’Anna walking inside UN Palace of Nations with Daniel Johnson and posing for a photograph.
  10. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristiana Dell’Anna: “I often ask myself, ‘Where does the migrant stand today in a world where we - it's easier to trade merchandise and it's easy for things to travel around the world rather than human beings; I wonder, we should probably reflect on these issues and understand where we place humankind compared to objects.”
  11. Wide, Cristiana Dell’Anna addressing audience in Room XIX.
  12. Medium-wide, trucking shot of Room XIX audience with Cristiana Dell’Ana shown speaking on big screen.
  13. Medium-wide, Room XIX audience applauding.
  14. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristiana Dell’Anna: “I think we should probably learn a lesson from this movie. Migrants are not really doing well, especially in southern Italy, in the whole country, I'm afraid to say. The way we treat migrants has changed radically and they've become more of a threat rather than an integral part of society as it should be.”
  15. Various, scenes from official Cabrini trailer.
  16. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristiana Dell’Anna: “It is very accurate - in fact, this one particular shot I'm thinking of, of some children, sitting on just by a little wall - it's inspired by a picture that was taken during those times. So, it is very accurate and everything you see in the movie’s actually happened at some point.”
  17. Medium, audience in profile.
  18. Medium-wide, Cristiana Dell’Anna holding flowers, applause.
  19. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristiana Dell’Anna: “We've forgotten how to be inspired and I just think that Cabrini could very much aid that idea because it's a true story, it's a very compelling one.”
  20. Various, scenes from official Cabrini trailer.
  21. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristiana Dell’Anna: “I just I just thought that starting a dialogue in that sense and being here, it could be a good starting point to maybe try and ground again certain ideas, or ideals and principles that should be - they should be - our guidance through our daily life for everyone.”
  22. Various, scenes from official Cabrini trailer.
  23. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristiana Dell’Anna: “I think she would be really pleased that we are telling the story. Not because of her, but because of the other huge main character that is in the story, which is the migrant. She’d be really pleased, because this is a very pertinent and contemporary issue that she would still address and she would still fight for, so the sole fact that we are talking about it, she probably be saying something like - she was very pragmatic - she would say, ‘Press on.’”
  24. Various, scenes from official Cabrini trailer.


Audio Files 1
Download Cabrini screening - Cristiana Dell'Anna (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

Widespread starvation in Gaza – IPC, UN Women 29 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNWOMEN

Widespread starvation in Gaza – IPC, UN Women 29 July 2025 ENG FRA

Aid agencies echoed wider warnings of growing signs of widespread starvation in Gaza on Tuesday, as UN-partnered international food security experts released their most dire assessment yet of the situation in the wartorn enclave.

Sudan displaced return – IOM, UNDP, UNHCR 25 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | IOM , UNDP , UNHCR

Sudan displaced return – IOM, UNDP, UNHCR 25 July 2025 ENG FRA

Sudan: urgent help needed as more than 1.3 million war-displaced people begin to return home

As conflict rages on across parts of Sudan, pockets of relative safety have emerged in the past four month, spurring more than one million internally displaced Sudanese to make their way home, says the International Organization for Migration (IOM). A further 320,000 cross-border refugees have come back to Sudan since last year, mainly from Egypt and South Sudan, to assess the current situation before deciding to return to their country for good.

Gaza crisis update UNRWA – WHO 22 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , WHO

Gaza crisis update UNRWA – WHO 22 July 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: SOS messages describe people fainting from hunger; UN health worker detained

Worrying alerts from United Nations staff in Gaza who have been fainting from hunger and exhaustion over the past 48 hours have increased fears for people’s survival in the devastated enclave, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Funding cuts impact on aid access - UNHCR Dominique Hyde - 18 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR , UNOG

Funding cuts impact on aid access - UNHCR Dominique Hyde - 18 July 2025 ENG FRA

Over 11.6 million refugees risk losing aid access due to funding cuts, says UNHCR

Approximately one in three refugees and other vulnerable individuals normally supported by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) are expected to lose out from funding cuts, it said on Friday.

UN Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani on opening mission in Bangladesh

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani on opening mission in Bangladesh ENG FRA

Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the following announcement on the Office’s opening of a new mission in Bangladesh.

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on returns of Afghans

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on returns of Afghans ENG FRA

The surge in the number of Afghans forced or compelled to return to Afghanistan this year is creating a multi-layered human rights crisis requiring the urgent attention of the international community,” UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said on Friday.  

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on violence in Suweida, Syria

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on violence in Suweida, Syria ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday called for accountability and justice for the killings and other gross human rights violations and abuses in the southern city of Suweida. 

Syria Sweida violence OHCHR – UNHCR 18 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNHCR

Syria Sweida violence OHCHR – UNHCR 18 July 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: hundreds killed in Sweida, ‘widespread’ violations as civilians flee for their lives

Amid violent clashes in southern Syria’s Sweida governorate, a picture of grave human rights abuses and rising humanitarian needs is emerging by the hour, the UN said on Friday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Liz Throssell on Ukraine

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Liz Throssell on Ukraine ENG

At the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva the UN Human Rights Spokesperson Liz Throssell made the following statement on the latest number of civilian casualties in Ukraine.

UN Human Rights Briefing on West Bank

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Briefing on West Bank ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday called for investigations into hundreds of killings of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank by Israeli security forces and settlers, warning against ongoing forced mass displacement of the Palestinian population.

Gaza And Occupied West Bank Update - OHCHR, UNRWA  15 July 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR , UNRWA

Gaza And Occupied West Bank Update - OHCHR, UNRWA 15 July 2025 ENG FRA

Nearly 900 people have been killed in Gaza in recent weeks trying to fetch food, with most deaths linked to private aid hubs run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence  in Haiti

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence in Haiti ENG FRA

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UN Human Rights Office have today released a report detailing the evolution of violent gang incidents beyond the capital Port-au-Prince since October 2024 up to June 2025, and the resulting loss of life and mass displacement.