A tale of courage and survival was on the big screen April 8 as part of the Italian Film Festival USA of St. Louis. Pierette Domenica Simpson, a survivor of the 1956 sinking of the Italian luxury liner the Andrea Doria, shared her story during the  screening of her documentary, “Andrea Doria: Are the Passengers Saved?” Ms. Simpson was introduced to the audience by the Italian Honorary Vice Consul in St Louis, Comm. Joseph Colagiovanni.

On July 25, 1956, the Andrea Doria was broadsided by the ship Stockholm in heavy fog near Nantucket Island. Simpson, then a 9-year-old immigrant traveling with her grandparents, recounts the harrowing experience and the truth surrounding the tragedy in the 77-minute docudrama directed by Luca Guardabascio.