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Bella
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Editorial Reviews:
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An international soccer star (Eduardo Verastegui) is on his way to sign a multimillion dollar contract when something happens that brings his career to an abrupt end. A beautiful waitress (Tammy Blanchard), struggling to make it in New York City, discovers something about herself that she's unprepared for. In one irreversible moment, their lives are turned upside down...until a simple gesture of kindness brings them both together, turning an ordinary day into an unforgettable experience.
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Life is a complicated journey in which right and wrong are sometimes indistinct and where the things that really matter are often unclear. Bella is a powerful, leisurely-paced film in which Jose (Eduardo Verastegui) and Nina (Tammy Blanchard) struggle to do what's right while seeking meaning in their lives. A quiet, brooding man with a dark past, Jose works as a chef in his brother Manny's (Manny Perez) restaurant where he mostly keeps to himself until young waitress Nina is fired. Touched by Manny's unfair treatment of Nina, Jose impulsively leaves work to follow Nina and spends a day with her where he discovers that she is pregnant and alone. The two become incredibly close in the space of a day, sharing their pasts, feelings, and fears, and a lasting friendship is born. As Nina struggles with her pregnancy options and Jose comes to terms with a horrific incident from his past, the pair's newfound friendship aids in growth and healing. In the end, Jose and Nina's lives become permanently intertwined in a most beautiful and unexpected way. Bella is a moving, introspective film that will inspire serious personal reflection. --Tami Horiuchi
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Bella
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User Comments About Bella
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If you're looking for fast-paced action, this movie isn't for you. But if you want a movie with depth of characters.something that will make you think.this is your kind of movie.
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Extremely inspiring and refreshing. Written by the director.
Very inspiring and very moving. It is not sachrinne, nor is it crass, it's real and uplifting.
Usually movies with such dramatic themes as abortion and just slice-of-life aren't usually my cup of tea, but this film. Much more substantial than the tripe Hollywood cranks out.
A must see. Bella is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen.
is up in my top ten favorite movies list.
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Well filmed. Reasonably well edited. Contrary to another reviewer's thoughts on the ending; I liked the combination of very nearly tied up loose ends and ambiguity. A little contrived but the overall "message" of the movie (redemption, hope, love, etc). You're just never explicitely told how. Hard to carry off but the movie somehow leaves you hopeful that everything works out.somehow. Well acted. creeps up on you and (by the end of the movie) is pretty insistently rising to an effervescent 'Hallelujah Chorus" of gentleness and grace.
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And I'd buy it rather than rent it, because it's a film you'll want to revisit and share with others. Bella is also beautiful because it is honestly multicultural. There are those out there who champion this film for religious or political reasons, and that is unfortunate, since that may discourage a wider audience for this very worthy effort. In particular, Tony-nominee Tammy Blanchard delivers a performance as natural and poignant as any I've seen in years. I won't give the plot away because it would be unwelcome by some readers. If you enjoyed TENDER MERCIES, PLACES IN THE HEART, REAL GIRLS HAVE CURVES or SMOKE SIGNALS, this film will fit you like a glove.
Neither lead character finds solace in institutions or laws. Five stars. If you relish movies about real love, family relationships, decency and redemption, you'll love this one. The director beckons us, and we enter the world of two extraordinary people and the choices they face in an impassive, lonely world. No formulas or stereotypes here.
So, if you're in the mood for a life-affirming movie filled with nuanced, sensitive performances and wonderful cultural depth and character, BELLA is for you. It's a quiet little masterpiece about loss and redemption featuring an ensemble cast that rivals those of the best independent films. The camera loves virtually every member of this cast, and the performances build on visual expression as well as words. The dignity and charm of BELLA is that a man and woman - faced with one of the most momentous choices a human can have - choose a path because they are circumspect, and view their crisis in light of their past and future lives. It's fortunate BELLA is something more inclusive and intelligent.
In the hands of less sensitive screenwriters, BELLA might have been an explicitly religious film. It is also an actor's film.
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