Bella

Over the last few months I have been hearing some buzz about a new movie coming out that was considered Acadamy Award material. This movie was shown at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival & won the People's Choice Award. That award is usually a predictor for the Best Picture Award for the Oscars. So you can see why there has been some buzz.

The name of the movie, Bella.

Last night I had to opportunity to attend an advance screening of the movie. (It is scheduled for release on 15 August 2007 in the USA) The movie lived up to the expectations I had for it. & more.

The storyline is a simple story of 2 people, José, played by Eduardo Verástegui & Nina, played by Tammy Blanchard (who won acclaim for her portrayal of a young Judy Garland). José is an up & coming soccer star who gets in an automobile accident that ends his career. He ends up working at his brother Manny's Mexican Restaurant. Nina is a waitress there who ends up getting pregnant. As the official plot summary says: "In one irreversible moment, their lives are turned upside down...until an impetuous action brings them together and turns an ordinary day into an unforgettable experience. . . . José has retreated from the world but he recognizes something in Nina, a young waitress, and reaches out to her. In the course of a single day, he not only confronts his past but shows her how the healing power of a family can help her embrace the future." The plot is based on a true story.

How he goes about doing this is at the heart of the movie. Nina is contemplating an abortion, José tries to talk her out of it. The heart of the movie is the day they spend together. There are some flashbacks as we learn what happenned to José on the day of the accident.

The movie is well cast. Eduardo Verástegui plays José. He is a well known Mexican actor, model & singer. Throughout most of the movie José is anything but the glamourous soccer star that he was. That he allows himself to appear in a way that is unflattering allows us to focus on the character rather than his looks.

Many people will remember Tammy Blanchard's excellent performance as Judy Garland. She turns in another excellent performance here. You really feel Nina's struggles as she decides what to do. Nina is not just a 1 note character, she is a woman who wants to do what's right & feels she has no other choice but to have an abortion.

As the official PR points out, this is a movie about the healing power of a family. & the actors who play José's family are also well cast. Angélica Aragón plays the mother. Her performance reminded me very much of a Mexican neighbor of mine from my childhood. Anita & Mike Cabellero were immigrants who settled in Oelwein to work at the railroad. My family was friends with them. Anita was warm, loving & welcoming. I saw a lot of her in Angélica Aragón's performance.

Jaime Tirelli played the father & Ramon Rodriguez played the 3rd son, Eduardo. they round out the family. the movie catches the little tensions that are there in a family, yet the love shines through that enables them to work through their struggles. Also, all of the supporting characters were also well cast.

The only thing that I had a little trouble adjusting to were the flashbacks & flashforwards. But by the end of the movie I came to see why they did it that way. & it made much more sense to me. Otherwise, the film was very well done. I can see why it won the award at Toronto. & I definitely expect to see it up for a best picture award at next years Oscars.

It is hard to put into words all my feelings about the movie or to accurately describe it. I feel like i didn't do enough justice to the mvie or the actors. To say it was heartwarming, moving or inspriring just doesn't seem adequate. The movie is all those things, but much more. I feel that this is definitely the best movie to come along in a long while. It is already on my list of must have when it comes out on DVD.

So, what does Nina decide to do? What happens to José? For that all I can say is see the movie.