The other day I received a package in the mail from Amazon. I periodically receive these types of packages because I buy books. But this particular package was sent by my dear friend in Dallas who grew impatient that I had not seen her favorite movie, Bella. It took a few days for me to get around to watch it and when I finally did, I was sorry I had taken so long. Bella is truly what its name means in Spanish–beautiful. It is a beautiful story. I had not known much about Bella except that it was a Catholic pro-life movie. That is all I knew. But I don’t find those titles to reveal much. Yes, it is Catholic in a Flannery O’Connor sense of the word, and yes it is definitely pro-life but not in the typical sense of the word. It is more. For me Bella can be summed up with two words: family and food.
The character Nina discovers she is pregnant with an unwanted child. The day she discovers she is pregnant is the day she is fired from her restaurant job by Jose’s brother because she has been late to work. Jose–a chef at the restaurant–runs after her and for one day, they spend the day together and this one day changes both of their lives.
There is so much about Bella that I loved, but what particularly jumps out at me is that Jose does not spend his time preaching to Nina how she shouldn’t abort her baby. He does question her about adoption and if it is an option for her, which she flatly refuses. Instead, Jose speaks with Nina and builds a relationship with her and he takes her home, his parents’ home, where Nina will pass a relatively normal day and experience family life. She is a wounded soul and her sadness is compared with the joy that she experiences in Jose’s Rican-Mexican household where food, music, love, arguments, teasing, are shared. The viewer gets the sense that Jose’s house is like a spa for the wounded soul. She can breathe, relax and not be on guard against further hurt. Jose also has been supported by his family–I won’t reveal how because it is an integral part of the story–but the viewer senses that it is the Love his family has for him that begins the healing for him, but it is also his relationship with Nina that seals the deal, so to speak.
Yet at the same time, Bella portrays the arguments and differences of opinion that can separate families. But I absolutely LOVE how the characters make up after an argument. Food plays a HUGE role in this movie. It reminds me of Isak Dinesen’s Babette’s Feast in that the food itself could be its own character and reveals so much about each person. Bella illustrates how food brings the family together in such a simple way. When Jose argues with his brother over his brother’s tyrannical behavior in the restaurant, they make up by eating a meal together. While Nina contemplates killing her own child, Jose’s parents invite her to dinner, and it is the dinner conversation that offers little known facts to Nina that will help her in her decision with what to do about her unexpected pregnancy.
It was so refreshing to see Hispanics portrayed as I experience them. Instead of the stereotypical gangsta portrayal, this movie highlights the best of the Latino family. I could relate to Bella on a personal level because when we visit all of my Mexican in-laws in Los Angeles, the first place we go is the backyard of a cunado’s house and eat some sopes o tostados fresh off the BBQ pit. The yard is crammed with primos and tios and dancing commences with a Salsa beat in the background.
So, yes, Bella is a Catholic movie but not in the typical sense, but in the values that it celebrates. And yes, it is a pro-life movie, but not in the sense that it explains why abortion is wrong, but rather by showing how beautiful and fragile life is. I am grateful my friend bought me the movie, but it is not in my house at this time. It is making the rounds amongst my Hispanic prayer group members and then will be passed around to others because it is such a positive and beautiful movie.
June 3, 2008 at 12:01 pm
The reflections on food and shared meals is one of the dynamics of that ultimate of shared meals, the Eucharist.
This emphasized aspect, the emphasis and improvements in the Liturgy of the Hours, and improvements and cohesion applied to the Liturgy of the Word during Mass are some of the grand liturgical triumphs of Vatican 2.
June 3, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I want to see this movie now. Thanks.
June 3, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I think I heard that the Legion of Christ/Regnum Christi was behind this production in some significant way.
Anybody have any further info?
June 3, 2008 at 12:15 pm
RCM-
I could not agree more. Bella is a must-see movie.
June 3, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Mark: yes, the Legionnaires were behind the movie, which made a LOT of people understandably uncomfortable. Please don’t let that stop you. It is too good for that.
June 3, 2008 at 12:18 pm
[...] I’ve been meaning to pen a glowing review of Bella, but RCM has saved me the trouble of doing so. [...]
June 3, 2008 at 12:33 pm
RCM.
Please understand that I meant nothing to discredit or raise suspicions about the movie.
No genetive ad hominems here.
In fact, three of my good undergraduate classmates from Universtity of St. Michael’s became Legion priests and have persevered through all of the troubling revelations about some significant aspects of the community. I also briefly worked for a LC boy’s academy in WI in the early 90s.
June 3, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I think I heard that the Legion of Christ/Regnum Christi was behind this production in some significant way.
Anybody have any further info?
This would explain why the film was heavily advertised at the Legion school where I work.
June 3, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Hey, Policraticus, how ya doin’?
Watched Bella this weekend with my agnostic husband and we both loved it. The life giving themes in the movie abound in a very natural way. It’s an exquisite film and belongs in every Catholic home DVD library.
June 4, 2008 at 2:25 am
i guess i need to see it again…there was something unsatisfying when i saw it the first time