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Bella!

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Bella!
Official poster
Directed byJeff L. Lieberman
Written byJeff L. Lieberman
Produced byJeff L. Lieberman
Jamila C. Fairley
StarringBarbra Streisand, Shirley MacLaine, Hillary Clinton, Lily Tomlin, Nancy Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Maxine Waters, Phil Donahue, Marlo Thomas, Charles Rangel, David Dinkins, Renée Taylor
CinematographyJeff L. Lieberman
Edited byJeff L. Lieberman
Music byThe Flat Nasty
Production
company
Re-Emerging Films
Distributed byRe-Emerging Films
Release date
  • August 23, 2023 (2023-08-23) (Worldwide)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Bella! is a 2023 American documentary film by director Jeff L. Lieberman. It chronicles the political career of the American politician and activist Bella Abzug.[1] The film opened in select theatres in August 2023 and has continued to tour throughout 2024. The film features interviews with Barbra Streisand, Shirley MacLaine, Hillary Clinton, Lily Tomlin, Nancy Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Maxine Waters, Phil Donahue, Marlo Thomas, Charles Rangel, David Dinkins and Renée Taylor.[2]

Bella! was nominated for Best Documentary Screenplay by the 76th Writers Guild of America Awards[3] and was selected as one of two winners of The Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film at an awards ceremony at The Library of Congress in October 2022. The award is a finishing grant designed to help filmmakers with completion funding.[4]

Release

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Bella! opened at New York's Village East Cinema on August 18, 2023, with a premiere that included Renée Taylor, Carolyn Maloney, Gale Brewer, Scott Stringer, David Belafonte, Allen Roskoff and Irene Natividad. NYC Mayor Eric Adams issued an official city proclamation calling August 18, 2023 "Bella Abzug Day", writing "I am pleased to join Harlem-based Re-Emerging Films for the world premiere of its new documentary film, Bella!, which explores the remarkable life and accomplishments of the late Bella Abzug, the trailblazing congress member from New York City."[5]

The film's first advance screening was at San Francisco's Castro Theatre with Nancy Pelosi in attendance. The film was the closing night film of The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.[6]

Bella!'s Canadian premiere was at the Park Theatre (Vancouver) on October 15, 2023. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim issued an official proclamation to mark the event, stating that Bella! "explores the remarkable life and accomplishments of the late Bella Abzug, the trailblazing activist, feminist, congress member, and global advocate for equality."[7]

Original song

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The film's final song is a specially composed anthem for Bella! called "The Easy Way". It is written and composed by Mark W. Hornburg and Doug Jervey. It is performed by Ansley Stewart and The Flat Nasty. The song features lyrics that reflect Bella Abzug's own relentless determination: "I could feel defeated now / I could be broken-hearted / I could be finished long before I'd even started / But that would be too easy and I never take the easy way."[8] The song was one of 94 songs to qualify for the 2024 Academy Awards.[9]

Reception

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Bella! holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 5 reviews.[10] The Alliance of Women Film Journalists selected Bella! as their Movie of the Week, with critic Loren King calling it "Enlightening, passionate, nostalgic and endlessly riveting."[11] Film Critic, Nicolas Rapold of The New York Times wrote "Her never-say-die advocacy still inspires, but the film also illustrates the merciless challenges of electoral endurance even for the fiercest fighter."[12] On Larry Mantle's FilmWeek on 89.3 KPCC, Film Critic, Lael Lowenstein called Bella! "very well-researched and thoroughly engaging."[13]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
The Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film October 18, 2022 Best Documentary Film Bella! Won[a] [14]
Writers Guild of America Awards April 14, 2024 Best Documentary Screenplay Jeff L. Lieberman Nominated [15]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists August 18, 2023 Movie of The Week Bella! Won [16]
Teaneck International Film Festival November 17, 2023 2023 Audience Award: Best Of Festival Bella! Won [17]
2023 Audience Award: Best Documentary Bella! Won
San Diego International Jewish Film Festival January 11, 2024 Audience Award - Best Documentary Feature Bella! Won[b] [18]
Tryon International Film Festival November 24, 2024 2024 Best Full-Length Documentary Bella! Won [19]

Notes

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  1. ^ Tied with Philly on Fire.
  2. ^ Third Place.

References

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  1. ^ Rapold, Nicolas (2023-08-17). "'Bella!' Review: Taking the Fight to the Streets and the House". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Bella! at IMDb
  3. ^ Schneider, Michael (2024-02-24). "WGA Nominations: 'Oppenheimer,' 'Barbie,' 'The Bear,' 'Succession' Among 2024 Nods". Variety.
  4. ^ Grobar, Matt (2022-10-08). "'Bella!' And 'Philly On Fire' Become First Docs To Tie For Library Of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize". Deadline.
  5. ^ "Mayor Eric Adams has proclaimed that Friday, August 18, 2023 will be Bella Abzug Day in honor of the World Premiere of BELLA!". Following Films. 16 August 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "CA: 2023 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival - Closing Night Premiere Of "Bella!"". Getty Images. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Ramsey, Cynthia (2023-11-23). "Inspiration to improve world". Jewish Independent.
  8. ^ Ramsey, Cynthia (2023-11-23). "Inspiration to improve world". Jewish Independent.
  9. ^ Burlingame, Jon (2023-11-23). "I94 Songs, 149 Original Scores Eligible in Oscar Music Categories (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  10. ^ "Bella! (2023)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  11. ^ "MOVIE OF THE WEEK August 18, 2023: BELLA!". AWFJ. 13 August 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  12. ^ Rapold, Nicolas (2023-08-17). "'Bella!' Review: Taking the Fight to the Streets and the House". The New York Times.
  13. ^ "Bella! (2023)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Grobar, Matt (2022-10-08). "'Bella!' And 'Philly On Fire' Become First Docs To Tie For Library Of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize". Deadline.
  15. ^ Schneider, Michael (2024-02-24). "WGA Nominations: 'Oppenheimer,' 'Barbie,' 'The Bear,' 'Succession' Among 2024 Nods". Variety.
  16. ^ "MOVIE OF THE WEEK August 18, 2023: BELLA!". AWFJ. 13 August 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "Teaneck International Awards for 2023". Teaneck International Film Festival. 16 December 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "2024 SDIFF Audience Award Winners". San Diego Jewish Film Festival. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "Tryon International Film Festival Celebrates 10 Years of art and community". Tryon Daily Bulletin. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
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