Bella : Life is Precious

“In one irreversible moment, a simple act of kindness brings them together and turns an ordinary day into an unforgettable experience”

A couple of the TOB WM! folks gathered at Terence's place to catch "Bella", winner of 2007's People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, an award recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. With its win, "Bella" joins the ranks of films such as "Chariots of Fire", "American Beauty", "Hotel Rwanda" and "Life is Beautiful"...

"Bella" is a rare gem, a pro-life film and simply a story true to everyday life.
A struggling waitress, Nina (Emmy Award-winning actress Tammy Blanchard), finds herself pregnant and gets fired. Jose (played by Latino heart rob, Eduardo Verastegui) head chef at the restaurant, spends the day around New York with her and shares his family, his believes and his secret.

I loved that Eduardo Verastegui had a awful thick bushy beard which covered his face. It's amazing how much more attention I payed to his screen character.

I liked how we all knew the pro-life sub plot, yet it didn't feel all that in your face. There were moments of the everyday New York that I loved, but yet too often many scenes were portrayed with too much perfection. I loved that the film is romantic in a very non sexual context.

Lessons learnt from "Bella":
1) When someone cares enough, it makes a difference
2) Take time to walk about a busy city street in a semi ridiculous attire
3) There's a lot of beauty in an imperfect family
4) Plant a tree
5) Have a friend with you when making a difficult decision
6) One wrong move can haunt you for life
7) Some choices you make mean more to someone else
8) Sometimes we see the effects or consequences of our choices a lot later in life

See too: Lessons learnt from "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"



Since the movie was released in 2007, "Bella" had touched the lives of mothers on the verge of an abortion and opened the eyes of others. Babies are being saved through the film. Grow the awareness. Support the Bella 10 campaign.