The Beauty of Bella

Townhall.com ^ | 11/15/2007 | Rebecca Hagelin

[Servant of the Cross]

Rarely am I so taken by the beauty and power of a movie that I want everyone I know to see it. “Bella” is a film you must see.

The story (I won’t reveal too much, because I don’t want to spoil it for you) concerns a young soccer star whose career is abruptly cut short. He winds up working in his brother’s restaurant in New York City, where he befriends a struggling waitress. The story is rich in messages of redemption, friendship, sacrifice and hope. No wonder the Hollywood crowd is beginning to cut it to shreds.

(snip)

The film is full of all the right messages about the character qualities that everyone should applaud -- honesty, devotion, family commitment, courage. It’s a masterpiece of cinematography, writing and acting. Director Alejandro Monteverde, and the outstanding actors Eduardo Verastegui and Tammy Blanchard, deliver the “feel good” movie of the year. The executive producer is Steve McEveety, producer of such blockbusters as “The Passion of the Christ” the top-grossing R-rated film of all time and the amazing “Braveheart.” I’m so impressed with the values, quality and message of Bella that I’m personally buying tickets for our high-school youth group.

[Servant of the Cross]

We need some movies that go mainstream that give a message of "honesty, devotion, family commitment, courage, in essence, hope. This movie does that in an incredible way. If we wish to get Hollywood's notice, they need to see the money being spent at the box office. Don't wait for the DVD! You won't be sorry that you did!

[AliVeritas]

ping

[wideminded]

Metacritic rating = 48.

[jagusafr]

I recommended it to my Sunday School class as probably the best movie I’ve seen in the last ten years - maybe ever. Touching on so many levels, deals with so many hard topics in such a decent way.

[jagusafr]

I read the reviews and couldn’t believe we’d seen the same movie. Well, another reason I don’t read reviews much, I guess...

[YourAdHere]

Another great, feel good movie getting no attention is called Lars and the Real Girl. It's not a dumb teenage comedy as the title would suggest, but rather a portrayal of an ideal community where people act the way you would hope they would in an extreme situation.

[Irish Queen]

Actually critics help us to decide what films to see at the cinema. If the critics adore it, call it cutting edge, edgy, thought-provoking we know it is not our kind of movie. If the same critics pan it as out-of-date, predictable and moralist it might be worth paying eight bucks a ticket.

Actually most the movies we see are at home. Presently, we're watching Alfred Hitchocock movies. 'Rear Window' is my favorite. And 'Rope' is the most unsettling to watch.

[Servant of the Cross]

There are many real miraculous stories surrounding this film. Here's my favorite:

Prior to filming, in an effort to understand what the character Nina was going through, Eduardo made a visit to an abortion clinic. “I wanted to build my character and do some research and investigation.”

“I was in shock when I saw all these 16- and 17-year-old girls going in and I didn’t know what to do. I forgot about the film and then I saw a few people outside trying to convince [a young girl] not to do it. “I approached that group … (snip) ‘Eduardo we don’t speak Spanish, can you talk to them?’ I said ‘yes.’” (snip) “We ended up talking for 45 minutes about everything: life, food, Mexico, dreams—and I gave her a little teddy bear and a little stroller ... (snip)

After they finished filling their cast, Eduardo and team moved on to New York for the shooting for the film. Then, “I came back to Los Angeles, and a few months later I received a call from the man who was with [the pregnant girl] that day and he tells me, ‘Eduardo, I have great news for you. My boy, my baby was born yesterday. I want to ask you permission because I want to call him Eduardo.’

“It changed my life…. I didn’t plan to do that. I was only doing my investigation as an actor. I never thought that, by the grace of God, I was going to be used as an instrument to save this baby to be Eduardito…. It was just amazing, to the point that I thought: Even if ‘Bella’ never comes out and nobody sees it I rejoice in the Lord for Eduardito’s life.”

Oh, and Eduardo is beautiful on the outside too.

[Guenevere]

bttt

[marinamuffy]

"Actually critics help us to decide what films to see at the cinema."

Me too. If critics love it, chances are I'm going to hate it as it is most likely depraved in some way. But if they hate it there is a good chance I'll like it!

The only movie reviewers that I respect are Michael Medved and Orson Scott Card although I don't even always agree with them. Maybe it's cause I'm a girl!

marinamuffy

[wideminded]

And 'Rope' is the most unsettling to watch.

It's unsettling alright, especially the very first scene. I got mad because someone in our home turned it on when a young child could have seen it. Interesting article about it on Wikipedia.

[puroresu]

Check out some of Hitchcock's less well-known earlier films. One of my favorites is Foreign Correspondent.

And I can't miss this opportunity to encourage you to check out some of the classics from Japan's golden age, particularly the films of Akira Kurosawa. See my Freeper page for some recommendations!

[Squidpup]

Great story - do you have the source/reference for it?

All - Bella is opening in our area this weekend - I intend to see it.

[Servant of the Cross]

It was at Townhall.com. An FR thread that links to it is here. Search on the word "Bella" here and you'll see plenty of other threads and links too. Here are a couple of videos from the movie website:

Eduardo’s Story

Eduardo Interview

[HereInTheHeartland]

Just saw this movie; it is a great film.

Why can’t we see more real movies like this?

I would actually enjoy going to movies again if there were more like this.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“There are many real miraculous stories surrounding this film. Here’s my favorite:”

Can you give a source for this, I would like to read it.
thanks,

[Servant of the Cross]

I posted this source in my response at #14 - click on the word “here” in the 2nd sentence. This story was in the article at Townhall.com on 10/24/07 by Russell Shubin.

[Servant of the Cross]

So ... tell us what you thought!

[ssaftler]

Rotten Tomatoes has it at 44%, and their are the usual spate of “the agenda is obvious” comments. Wonder what these dyspeptic anal retentives would say about the latest spate of anti-American, anti-war screeds that are out there now losing millions and millions of dollars?

BTW, the film is nowhere to be found in the Bay Area, or it’s been and quickly gone. Guess I shouldn’t be too surprised.

[Squidpup]

I did get to see it just yesterday. It is a sweet, beautiful film. Very well-acted I thought - convincing and emotional. The pain and anguish that the two main characters experience, mixed with joy and love is all exceptionally portrayed. yeah - I cried.

The pace is a little leisurely through parts of it - no explosions or gunbattles, but the relational drama builds at the end to an amazing and original conclusion. Most of the story revolves around a single day when the female character gets fired from her waitressing job, but there are flash backs and flash forwards you have to watch out for. By the end of the film, they all fall into line and make sense.

Don't know why the critics wouldn't like this except that it celebrates family, forgiveness, and truly transcendent love rather than narcissism and debauchery. There was a good crowd in the theatre for such a minimally-promoted film.

A must see.