Bella (2006)

I had the privilege of catching a sneak-peak of Bella before it won the Tronto Film Festival, followed by a Q&A with the director and some of the cast members. I cannot stress how very humble and real they all are. As for the film, being from the Midwest, I've watched TV all my life. Flipping channels it's funny how you stumble across films that you don't think anyone has ever heard of; but later you grow to realize that that one film, that one film you watched late one Thursday night, made such a difference in the way you chose to carry yourself through life that you became a part of it, and it a part of you. You don't know why, but for some reason, you just needed to see it: Bella is that film.

Fmovies: This is a movie that is pro-life and pro-living .... it puts people first in a world where we always put working, doing our "own thing" first; an exceptional movie with a great message ... my dh thought it was a great view of how to be a man ... I thought it was a great movie about living life joyfully (even when events occur that change OUR plans ... often something better comes out at the end -- especially when we stop pouting~!).

Go see this movie -- take the family, the neighbors, etc -- it really is a great one for all to see. The PG-13 rating is for "subject matter" and one very brief (and well done) accident scene ... nothing really objectionable that we saw.

Please go and spread the word about this one ... it really does merit the awards it's gotten and those that it can still win....

I had the privilege of seeing a test screen of this movie and it was simply amazing. It is unbelievable to think that Alejandro Monteverde is a first time director. The story is beautiful and so very refreshing. The setting for the movie is in New York and was the perfect choice. The plot is also captivating and the audience is left falling in love with not only the characters, but their story too. I knew little about the movie going into the screening, but was blown away by the end. It is no surprise this movie won the "People's Choice" award at the Toronto International Film Festival and it will be no surprise if there is definite Oscar Buzz surrounding this wonderful film. Trust me, if the reaction to this film is anything like it was the night I saw it, this film will be remembered for a long time to come.

www.bellathemovie.com

Bella fmovies. I had the privilege of attending one of the private screenings of BELLA in Hollywood, Califronia...when the film ended I left the theater with a light feeling in my heart almost felt like I was on a cloud thinking "What a beautiful, clean message of acceptance and unconditional love"....BELLA "is" a labor of love and I'm proud to be a Latina just like the production company METANOIA FILMS which produced this amazing film....I am certain audiences worldwide will enjoy this film as much as I did, since it contains no violence, sex or profanity...what a breath of fresh air it is to watch a film like BELLA...I will watch it again and again, only next time I will take family and friends with me....what a treat!!!!!! TM Salinas

Having heard that this film won at Toronto, I was anxious to see it. Although it has not yet been widely released, I was fortunate to attend at a recent sneak preview and found it to be incredibly refreshing and subtly powerful. Stylistically, newcomer director Alejandro Monteverde does a superb job pacing the story -- combining just the right amounts of character, humor, and mystery into a package that satisfies on multiple levels -- intellectually, visually, emotionally, symbolically, etc. The photography -- shot in and around the streets of Manhattan and Long Island -- is top notch, reminding me of James Crabe's amazing cinematography along the streets of Philadelphia in Rocky (1977)....and the editing, relying heavily on jump cuts, keeps the story moving along in multiple time frames to great effect.

The actors all shine in their roles, particularly Mexican superstar Eduardo Verástegui and Tammy Blanchard, who portray their particularly complex relationship -- between a cook and a waitress in a Mexican restaurant -- with finesse. Additionally, the filmmakers do an excellent job presenting Hispanic culture in a manner that shatters the ridiculous stereotypes that are often presented in mainstream television and film. The scenes taking place at the cook's Hispanic parents' house are particularly funny, charming, and poignant. Also, the film portrays some very powerful emotional moments that have tremendous staying power long after leaving the theater.

In short, this is subtly powerful film that everyone should see.

BELLA is a poignant portrayal of love-conquers-all that runs the gamut from spellbinding to uplifting with a firm but gentle hand as the writer tells a tale of fallen dreams that breathes life into a dying world where family, faith, and friends are re-discovered and claimed as the "ties that bind." The captivating cast as well as the crew embody the very essence of family life among the Latino community yet the writing is so cleverly crafted that it transcends the tumult and transition of recovering from shattered spirits in any family of any ethnic background. The "realness" of the plot and characters makes you feel like you're in the middle of every scene!