Bella is the kind of movie that grows on you. My initial impression was that the movie was ‘nice.’ There was something persistent in it, though, that kept the scenes running through my head. The more they did, the deeper my appreciation for the film grew. This film is composed of visually rich scenes and compelling vignettes which become all the more meaningful when contrasted with each other.
Nina, the central character in the film, just got a positive result from a pregnancy test. In her distress, she arrives late to work, for which she is fired. Jose, the chef (and brother of the owner), walks out the restaurant and the film portrays their day together.
For a movie dealing with abortion, arguably the single most politicized and contentious issue dividing the country, the film shows remarkable restraint and subtlety. While I don’t want to get into the issue of abortion per se, I will say that I greatly appreciated the fact that the film examined the issue artistically. That is, there is no sermonizing, lecturing, debating or moralizing in this movie. Rather, themes emerge through gentle conversation and imagery. (more…)
