Currently being screened in colleges, cities and church groups throughout the country is an award-winning film that is winning rave reviews even before it makes its theatrical debut.

Bella is a movie that the Christian community can support because it brings forth a message of life over death - and the healing power of family - without religious overtones.

 
Those fortunate enough to have seen a screening of the Bella talk about its graceful acting, its positive portrayal of Hispanics and the Hispanic family, and many have been impressed by the softness of the messaging.  Apparently the audiences at the Toronto Film Festival were also greatly impressed; in September 2006, this jewel of a movie won the Festival's coveted People's Choice Award.  This is quite an accomplishment when you consider two of the other films also premiering were Babel and The Last King of Scotland - both films which received high marks and won Oscars along the way. 

Bella tells the story of a young single waitress in New York City whose many mistakes in life finally catch up to her.  Nina, played by Tammy Blanchard, becomes pregnant and as a result loses her job. Thinking that she cannot bring a child into a world that has beaten her down, she determines she will not keep her child.  At the precise moment when she feels she has hit rock bottom she receives the undivided attention of an enigmatic co-worker, Jos, who has suffered a tragedy in his past.  She is taken aback by his sympathetic kindness and his unselfish support of her. 

Jos - played by Eduardo Verastegui - is a man on a mission. After an irreversible tragedy robs him of his dream be a world famous soccer star, Jos is attempting to pull his life back together.  We find him working as head chef for his demanding and successful brother, Manny, in a New York City restaurant.

Things come to a head right before a busy lunch period begins, when Manny fires Nina for coming in late once too many times and Jos leaves his post as head chef right then and there.  His brother Manny can't believe Jos has just dropped everything to stand by the side of a friend in need.

Without giving the movie away, a Nina and Jos reach a decision during the course of a walk that will change both of their lives.

Bella was conceived by three young Mexican men - a producer, a director and an actor - who are devout Catholics.  They have expressed their intent to continue making films that positively influence society - morally and socially - through effective and artistic storytelling. The movie has no gratuitous blasphemy, nor will you find sexually explicit scenes, crass jokes, or cheap shots taken at the Christian community.

This brand of filmmaking should serve as a standard to other young Christian men and women, to show that we do not have to bend in our convictions and moral principles to do something we love.  The field of filmmaking is wide open for today's young Christians to exhibit their talent and creativity while changing lives through their work.

As a community we should encourage the makers of this film by our consumer dollars.  And we should support efforts that continue to bring the Bella message - the beautiful message - of friendship, of family and our capacity to love, to every generation.

For more information visit www.bellathemovie.com

Click here view the film's media kit: http://bellathemovie.com/pdf/info.pdf