Bella (2006)

A chef with a mysterious past spends the day with a waitress who needs a friend.

Director:

Alejandro Monteverde (as Alejandro Gómez Monteverde)

Writers:

Alejandro Monteverde (as Alejandro Gómez Monteverde), Patrick Million

Stars:

Eduardo Verástegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez

6 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eduardo Verástegui	...	José
Tammy Blanchard	...	Nina
Manny Perez	...	Manny
Angélica Aragón	...	Mother
Jaime Tirelli	...	Father
Ramon Rodriguez	...	Eduardo
Armando Riesco	...	Francisco
Sophie Nyweide	...	Bella
Ali Landry Monteverde	...	Celia (as Ali Landry)
Ewa Da Cruz	...	Veronica
Alexa Gerasimovich	...	Loochi
Herb Lovelle	...	Homeless Man
Tawny Cypress	...	Frannie
Doug DeBeech	...	Pieter
Michael Mosley	...	Kevin

Storyline

An international soccer star is on his way to sign a multimillion-dollar contract when a series of events unfold that bring his career to an abrupt end. A beautiful waitress, struggling to make it in New York City, discovers something about herself that she's unprepared for. In one irreversible moment, their lives are turned upside down... until a simple gesture of kindness brings them both together, turning an ordinary day to an unforgettable experience.

---

Plot Keywords:

pregnancy | adoption | abortion | character name as title | forename as title | 

---

Taglines:

what do you live for?

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

30 November 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beauty

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,324,000, 26 October 2007, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$8,108,247, 29 June 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metanoia Films, Bella Production, Burnside Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on a true story.

---

Goofs

At the end of the film Nina returns to Long Island on an Amtrack pulled by an engine clearly framed by the camera. The Long Island RR is electrified and is not equipped with an engine. It uses a third rail.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Jose: [voiceover] My grandmother used to say, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."

---

Connections

Featured in The O'Reilly Factor: Episode dated 5 May 2008 (2008)

---

Soundtracks

Valentin De La Sierra
Written by Popular Traditional
Performed by Xocoyotzin Herrera
Courtesy of LMS Records

User Reviews

Finally a film with a message and a moral to the story!

BELLA is a poignant portrayal of love-conquers-all that runs the gamut from spellbinding to uplifting with a firm but gentle hand as the writer tells a tale of fallen dreams that breathes life into a dying world where family, faith, and friends are re-discovered and claimed as the "ties that bind." The captivating cast as well as the crew embody the very essence of family life among the Latino community yet the writing is so cleverly crafted that it transcends the tumult and transition of recovering from shattered spirits in any family of any ethnic background. The "realness" of the plot and characters makes you feel like you're in the middle of every scene!