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Go See the Superb Catholic, Pro-Life Movie "Bella"

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Wed Nov 7th, 2007 11:34 pm

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I've heard nothing but rave reviews about this movie: and not just from Catholics and other Christians. It was a winner at the Toronto Film Festival (People's Choice award). I won't tell you much more about it. Check out the official website for Bella and an article and review from Thomas Peters at the American Papist blog.

It's important to view the film now because that helps to determine if it will have a run for more than two weeks at theatres. Tell your friends and family. Spread the word . . . apparently it is doing well,but the Christian and pro-life crowds need to go soon to see this film.

We saw it last week and it was fantastic: 10 out of 10.

Here's an article that discusses the pious Catholicism of the male lead, Eduardo Verastegui:

http://www.the-tidings.com/2007/...01907/ bella.htm

Here's another interview article by Steven D. Greydanus:

http://www.decentfilms.com/secti...cles/ bella.html

And another review, by Leticia Velasquez:

http://www.mercatornet.com/artic...articles/bella/

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Thu Nov 8th, 2007 03:52 pm

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Has anyone seen this movie? I'm surprised there are no comments.

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Posted: Thu Nov 8th, 2007 03:56 pm

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Hey, Dave,

Yes, I responded to Rick's post about this movie a week or so ago.

The movie is great. So glad I got to see it.

Becky

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Thu Nov 8th, 2007 03:59 pm

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Oh cool. I didn't notice that there was a prior post. Well, more advertising can't hurt!

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Posted: Fri Nov 9th, 2007 12:36 pm

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I can't wait to see it! Does anyone know if this movie is appropriate for young children (ages 5-8)? Or, should I get a sitter to see it?

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Posted: Fri Nov 9th, 2007 02:45 pm

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Hi Amber,

I would say it is, except for one very intense scene (not visually graphic, but emotionally gut-wrenching) of a child being killed by accident (that was, I confess, quite difficult for me as an adult and a father to take). Probably not suitable for that age group, and might even be traumatic.

Other than that, there is nothing objectionable at all for young children, that I can recall. The scene is crucial in terms of the plot; maybe it could have been done in a less intense fashion, but that is the director's call. I certainly understand why he did it, and it adds immensely to the overall dramatic impact of the film and the viewer's identification and sympathy with one of the main characters.

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Posted: Fri Nov 9th, 2007 02:50 pm

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Dave Armstrong wrote: Hi Amber,

I would say it is, except for one very intense scene (not visually graphic, but emotionally gut-wrenching) of a child being killed by accident (that was, I confess, quite difficult for me as an adult and a father to take). Probably not suitable for that age group, and might even be traumatic.

Other than that, there is nothing objectionable at all for young children, that I can recall. The scene is crucial in terms of the plot; maybe it could have been done in a less intense fashion, but that is the director's call. I certainly understand why he did it, and it adds immensely to the overall dramatic impact of the film and the viewer's identification and sympathy with one of the main characters.

Thanks, Dave. I'll err on the side of caution and get a sitter!

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Fri Nov 9th, 2007 05:37 pm

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Not to mention that children that age would be quite bored, as the movie is very script-oriented, and of adult themes (in the non-sexual sense!).

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Posted: Fri Nov 9th, 2007 08:18 pm

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It doesn't open here until Nov. 16, but I'd love to see it then. Not sure if I can take the scene you describe above. But I really want to support the film and the producers.

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Posted: Fri Nov 9th, 2007 10:21 pm

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Credo Catholic wrote: It doesn't open here until Nov. 16, but I'd love to see it then. Not sure if I can take the scene you describe above. But I really want to support the film and the producers.
I have a friend who still hasn't seen "The Passion of the Christ" because she is afraid she won't be able to take the torture our Lord suffered. Of course, I disagree. I saw it four times that first Lent, and have seen it several times since. The more we know about our Lord's suffering, the more we know just what he gave for us.

I have not seen "Bella". It is not playing in my area and as far as I know, it is not scheduled. Some day I will see it. Watching such a scene is nothing compared to experiencing it, and the least I can do is witness the suffering of others, whether it is in a movie or at the National Holocaust Museum, or at the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.

Who was it who said those who fail to understand history are condemned to repeat it? We must make an effort to understand the suffering of others, whether it is racial or sexual discrimination, poverty, HIV/AIDS, or religious persecution. Otherwise, how can we work to stop it? Jesus said his yoke was easy and his burden light. That means heaven is a good fit for us. He never said we wouldn't have to witness some very uncomfortable things on our path. We cannot provide for the least of his people unless we know what they are going through.

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Dave Armstrong
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Posted: Sat Nov 10th, 2007 02:56 am

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That's a profound point, Rick. I agree for the most part, but I think people do have different limits, though, to how much intensity of depicted suffering or actual suffering they can take. There are movies that I watch that my wife could never watch. She just can't handle it. She's too fragile. She has nightmares (I rarely do). Her very fragility is what goes along with her tenderness, caring, and sensitivity. If she didn't have the one trait, she probably wouldn't have the others, either.

Now, maybe that is a weakness that she needs to get over (I'm not so sure), but people have different emotional capacities. Some people are in so much pain and suffering for whatever reason, that they can barely make it through the day, and a super-intense movie might actually be traumatic for them, or lead to a depression or unwanted anxiety.

Several times I have broken down (and unexpectedly at that) when watching movies having to do with cancer or a brother who died, since I lost my one brother, Gerry, to leukemia in 1998. I watched him suffer and deteriorate: my older brother, whom I idolized when I was young, because he was ten years older than I was. That pain is still in me. I don't even know how deep it is, myself, but it is extremely deep. I can feel it welling up right now as I write, and it was almost ten years ago. I just know that when I see scenes in movies that bear a resemblance to that, it is supremely agonizing and I am back there again. Perhaps we never completely get over such a terrible thing that happened to us.

There could be any number of things like that, that would cause a person to avoid a particularly intense movie. So I'm just saying that we ought to be aware of that, too, even though I think you made a great point. I'm basically thinking out loud in this reply.

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Posted: Sat Nov 10th, 2007 11:21 am

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Dave Armstrong wrote: That's a profound point, Rick. I agree for the most part, but I think people do have different limits, though, to how much intensity of depicted suffering or actual suffering they can take.

I truly do understand. My mother could never watch the New Orleans Saints through the 80's. She couldn't handle that much tragedy. I know she is truly enjoying seeing them win today. She's sitting in the kitchen in heaven and my dad is telling her what's happening, just like the old days.

Humor aside, I know that not everyone can witness the worst humanity has to offer. The most intense experience of that nature in my life was a visit to Haiti in 2001 (three weeks after 9/11). Several people who planned to travel backed out, which is actually how I got to go. It was one of those wonderful/horrible experiences which I have documented at my Retreat into Reality. It is truly heartbreaking to see the conditions under which some people are forced to live. Even during the worst of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, the victims of the hurricane did not have it as bad as the poorest people in the world do every day.

So those of us who do have the opportunity to see must also tell the story, as horrible and uncomfortable as it is. That's one of the reasons I have so much respect for the leadership of the Church that is never afraid to spread the message of Truth and to call us to holiness. (Well, at least most of the leadership.)

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Posted: Sat Nov 10th, 2007 11:27 am

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Rick and Dave, thank you both for excellent comments. I don't disagree with you Rick, at all. I have thought the same thing, that if Christ died the horrible death he did for all the wrong and stupid things I've done, then I should at least be able to suffer through watching a movie that I know is just a movie. But I haven't been able to do it yet. The reason is, like Dave said, I get over-the-top upset about things like that. I have all my life. When a child falls and scrapes a knee, I feel it as if I had scraped mine. When I read in the paper of a child who was abused and/or killed, I get really sad, and sometimes cry. I know a movie is staged and is actors, but the effect is still the same. I can't even watch a commercial for a horror movie, I turn the channel or close my eyes. However, I do have a large capacity for caring for others, and of being exceedingly patient. So maybe I have too little of one trait and more than I need of the other! Go figure.

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Posted: Sat Nov 10th, 2007 11:44 am

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I saw it. It was pretty moving and had good production, music, and acting and was higher quality than I may expect from movies that are more 'moral.'
I am still not sure it was objectively good, though, or if it just moved me because of the issues. It is very emotional. Maybe a bit overdramatic. And Iam not sure if there is enough to it plot wise to be considered as full of a movie as some people may want to watch. There is a lot of heaviness, and a strong message, and I hope it will change lives of those on the borderline, but I am worried that anyone not pro-life already may not be compelled. But
I hope so. I like that it does not say anything condemning anybody or anything, but sort of allows there voice to be heard, and sometimes that is the best thing for someone in that situation. We still need to tell the truth, but it is also good to allow the other person opportunities to vent. I like its portrayal of Mexican famiy life, and the character is very endearing, but almost too heroically perfect. But a good example.
The only scence I was curious about, and stop reafing if you do not want to know anything, but this won't ruin it..they show little clips of thing, and in one clip they show her going in possibly to have an abortion, and the main character is sort of waiting for her in the waiting room, sort of hoping she will still change her mind and make the right decision, and you see him praying on little rosary bracelet. He is there to support most likely.
I have often wondered about this. We often say that driving somebody to an abortion clinic in a sense makes us guilty, but if a friend or family member was going anyway, I would still find it hard to ome with for moral support. Is that right or wrong? If you had already spoke out against the action and done your part, and your friend just needed somebody there, is it best to go and pray and still try to pursuade, or by going are you already showing too much support? Would this be a small mistake of the movie...
I am not even positive this was in the movie, it was sort of a futuristic clip they show kind of early while a larger scene is playing out. There were no words, and it was hard to be positive what was going on, yet I think this is what it wanted to imply. Pretty sure....
Anyway, I would advise people to go see it if, especially for the sake of sending the box office a message and giving more people the chance to possibly be moved by it toward the pro-life side, or at least away from having abortion or supporting it.
The only thing, I do not like is when people say that it is good and we shuld go se it, when they have not seen it themself. I like that Dave said what he heard, as opposed to saying it was good. I take word of mouth seriously depending on the source, but I try not to say something IS good if I do not know what it is. Only that I have heard that it is good, or expect it to be good.
Brian

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Posted: Sat Nov 10th, 2007 06:50 pm

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Credo Catholic wrote:
However, I do have a large capacity for caring for others

Yes, Marsha, we have seen evidence of that over and over as you have shown your tender concern for those of us here on the forum and for your neighbors and friends.

I still have not seen The Passion of the Christ either, despite pressure from priests I know.

Last edited on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 03:02 am by Intercessor

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Posted: Mon Nov 12th, 2007 01:04 pm

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Hi Brian,

A friend of mine, who is actually a filmmaker himself, with a doctorate in that area (Stan Williams), told me that scene was in the man's (or the abstract film "narrator's viewpoint"?) imagination only. I missed that when I saw it (I thought it was fast-forwarding to the future), but for what it's worth, that was his opinion. I think it could have been made a lot more clear, so your average film watcher, and not just the guy who knows all about cinema, would catch that.

He mentioned a lot of symbolism in the movie that I missed (My wife caught some of it: being -- as usual -- more perceptive than I am). For example, when the woman lead dips down under the bathwater, it was supposed to be symbolic of baptism. I guess that was pretty obvious, but it didn't occur to me at the time . . .

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Posted: Mon Nov 12th, 2007 01:11 pm

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The lady who went with me to see the movie noticed that the male lead was wearing a scapular. She spotted it as he turned cartwheels on the beach.

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Posted: Mon Nov 12th, 2007 02:53 pm

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I saw Bella yesterday and I just absolutely loved it! It was so refreshing to view a movie that was not crass in any way, very refreshing! I went with a friend and I have to say we need to get the word out about this movie, there were only 7 people in the theater.

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Posted: Tue Nov 13th, 2007 10:13 am

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You mentioned that it didn't open in your area until Nov. 16th. I want to encourage you to not only go, but to take people/groups, etc. to this movie. Yes, the people who made this film deserve to be supported. Morever, this is an opportunity to "vote" for positive, hopeful, life-affirming movies. It is also an opportunity to help this movie to reach a much larger audience. While this movie is inspiring for the faithful, it was made for the wider general public including women facing an unwanted pregnancy. So, if you know anybody who has ever expressed displeasure with what the state of the culture and media, take them to this film. If you know anybody who would like to see women choose life, take them to this movie.

By the way, this movie was great the first time and even better the second. It is one of those movies (like "It's a Wonderful Life") that have significant things happen that are seen in context is revealed later in the movie. Seeing a second brought all the more depth of emotion.

God bless the makers of this movie and those who support it....

Marty T.

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Posted: Tue Nov 13th, 2007 03:31 pm

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I'm bummed to find out this movie is NOT playing at my local theaters... I'll have to wait for it to come out on video...

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Posted: Wed Nov 14th, 2007 08:25 am

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thiscatholicjourney wrote: I'm bummed to find out this movie is NOT playing at my local theaters... I'll have to wait for it to come out on video...

The movie is opening in New Orleans and many other cities on November 16th, and there may well be future rollouts as well. Check local listings!

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Posted: Wed Nov 14th, 2007 11:43 am

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CajunRick wrote: thiscatholicjourney wrote: I'm bummed to find out this movie is NOT playing at my local theaters... I'll have to wait for it to come out on video...

The movie is opening in New Orleans and many other cities on November 16th, and there may well be future rollouts as well. Check local listings!

Thank you! I will definitely keep looking for it!

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Posted: Mon Nov 19th, 2007 10:44 am

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Has anyone seen the movie? My wife and I saw it yesterday. What wonderful affirming film about love, family, adoption and the choices we make in life. I highly recommend the movie!

Here is the web site: http://www.bellathemovie.com/

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CHNI Forums > Fellowship Area > Religion in the News > Go See the Superb Catholic, Pro-Life Movie "Bella"