Film Review: Bella

I'm going to be very bold and say that I think Tammy Blanchard has the same "it" factor as Anne Baxter and Norma Shearer. I became enamored with her in middle school when I first saw her on the soap opera Guiding Light. I remember thinking, "What an actress!!" I can't believe she isn't famous and hasn't won at least one Oscar. I don't know where she is or what she's doing but I hope she puts herself out there more and does more movies. Her kind of talent is rare.

Released in 2006, Bella is a story about kindness and generosity. Nina (played by Tammy Blanchard pictured above and right) and Jose (played by Eduardo Verástegui pictured above and left) are co-workers in a New York City restaurant. Nina is a waitress and Jose is a cook; she arrives late the second day in a row and Jose's brother who owns the restaurant fires her on the spot. Jose feels bad and follows her outside where she tells him that she's pregnant and she doesn't know what she's going to do. She reveals that she is thinking of abortion because she doesn't think she's ready to have the child.

The majority of the movie takes place within 12 hours which is interesting as most movies cover a span of days and weeks. Jose takes her to his parents' home and he makes her comfortable and shows her the warmth of his family. She has dinner with his family and she later discovers that Manny (her former boss and Jose's brother) is adopted. She has a new found respect for Jose's parents and they extend their generosity to her inviting her to stay with them whenever the need arises. As the day progresses, Jose opens up and tells her that years ago while he was driving he accidentally hit and killed a little girl. He served four years in prison. When he was released he tried to contact the little girl's family but was unsuccessful; not having the opportunity for closure hurt him deeply. His disclosure encourages her to disclose to him her past. She tells him about her father's death which emotionally destroyed her family. She is the only child and has taken cared of her emotionally distraught mother over the years. She compliments him on his beautiful and loving family and you see in her eyes the longing for a family like the one Jose possesses. The next day they go about their lives and she asks him to go with her to the abortion clinic. They meet up several years later and what is uncovered will have you gasp, tear, and smile uncontrollably! Definitely pick this treasure up! .-_-