With its movies and music, Hollywood can make a significant impact on society and can change the face of the nation's attitudes on any topic.
And changing the way the public approaches the issue of abortion is the top goal of the producers of Bella, a film that continues to generate a buzz a year after its victory at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Bella is the story of a star Mexican soccer player who seemingly has all the fame and fortune the status as a sports star can afford. That is until he accidentally kills a little girl in an automobile accident and learns the value of human life.
Without an over-the-top approach that features content directed at the pro-life community, it takes a more subtle tack that could cause millions of Americans to rethink their own views supporting abortion.
LifeNews.com reporters were first shown the movie over two years ago in a private filming and came away convinced it could have a significant impact if it could get distribution nationwide.
The premier had been set for August, but was delayed until October at producers secured a deal with leading independent film studio Lions Gate Entertainment.
The company has been a top distributor for horror flicks but is hoping to brand out into family entertainment.
Bella will offer counter-programming for the horror movies distributed near Halloween, Sean Wolfington, one of the films co-producers, told the Catholic Register. It will be a little candle amidst the darkness.
The producers aren't marketing the film as a pro-life one, though its unspoken message about abortion and the respect for life is crystal clear.
At every showing, audiences rise to their feet with teary eyes, thunderous applause and offers to help promote it. With teary eyes, thunderous applause and offers to help promote it.
The movie is racking up strong reviews from several media outlets -- with the New York Times calling it an "emotional tale of self discovery," Fox News labeling it "incredibly charming," and the New York Post saying the film is "a stunning exhibition of cinema art."
The actors and producers in the movie are stars in their own right who are all strongly pro-life Catholics and have formed a new production company to impact the culture. If Bella does well -- they have two more pro-life themed movies ready to follow.
Eduardo Verastegui is a singer and actor who is an international star in Latin American countries on par with top American celebrities. Like his character in Bella, he gave up the glory of the world to focus on making movies that advance values and ethics.
Verastegui has been in the industry for a long time but recently he decided he wants to work on projects that touch peoples hearts and minds so when they leave the theater they want to love more and judge less."
Bella, filmed on location in New York, is the first project from Metanoia Films. The new company that wants to "tell stories that everyone can relate to in a language that everyone understands; love, pain, joy, sadness, happiness and hope."
Related web sites:
Bella the Movie - http://www.bellathemovie.com/