Film Bites

Jose(Verástegui) was destined for greatness. A soon to be professional soccer player for the Mexican national team, Jose had it all. In the blink of an eye, his life changed after a tragic car accident and the death of a young girl. Her death haunting him, Jose spends 4 years in prison, after which Jose’s life becomes one of simply holding on and living day to day. He works in his brother’s Mexican restaurant as the head chef, but hasn’t rediscovered the passion his life lacks.

Manny(Perez), Jose’s brother, runs his restaurant like a general runs an army. Cracking the whip on his employees, he cares more about the business than the people who help him run it. Because of this, it’s easy for him to fire Nina(Blanchard) after she’s late for work one too many times, regardless of the reason. Jose, an unknowing companion, extends a helpful hand to Nina who has just learn of her unplanned pregnancy. Together, they rediscover what is truly important in life; love, family and a passion for living.

My preconceptions for Bella were completely misguided. I notoriously do not trust film reviews I read; they are often misleading. I’d read a few mixed reviews for this film, some good and some bad, and went in believing I knew the story before entering the theatre. Maybe that was for the better, because the film was not what I was expecting at all. All the reviews made Bella seem like just another Hollywood love story; guy meets girl, guy woos girl, guy and girl fall in love. There have been many films that follow this template, but this wasn’t one of them.

What blew me away was the film’s true theme. It comes at you from left-field, yet seems so perfect in the emotional context of the film. The idea that Jose can find true happiness in his life by facing his demons, is something that is expected in a romantic film. It’s just the source of his happiness comes from the last place you’d expect.

From the very beginning, the film interleaves the character’s history into short almost dream-like flashbacks, which create an interesting, seemingly evolving, storyline. At the same time, the ghosts that haunt the characters are exposed through emotional dialog in the present. While being very powerful, the dialog is also lighthearted at the perfect moments. Transitioning from somber and dramatic to strikingly comedic is smooth in the film and natural from the actors. Bella is absolutely breathtaking in it’s simplicity and with its amazing character development, acting and cinematography, viewers are in for a treat.