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Bella (2006 film)

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Bella
File:Official Bella Poster - Eduardo & Tammy.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlejandro Gomez Monteverde
Written byAlejandro Gomez Monteverde
Patrick Million
Leo Severino
Produced bySean Wolfington
Eduardo Verástegui
Leo Severino
Alejandro Gomez Monteverde
Denise Pinckley
StarringEduardo Verástegui
Tammy Blanchard
Manny Perez
Ali Landry
CinematographyAndrew Cadelago
Edited byJoseph Gutowski
Fernando Villena
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
Oct 26th, 2007Nov 9th
Running time
91 minutes
Countries Mexico
 United States
LanguagesEnglish
Spanish
Budget$4,300,000

Bella is a 2006 film directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde starring Mexican actor Eduardo Verastegui and Tammy Blanchard. Set in New York City, the film is about a day in the life of Jose, a former soccer star, and Nina, a waitress who is unexpectedly pregnant. The film took top prize at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival by winning the "People's Choice Award". Rotten Tomatoes named this is the user's most popular limited release film.[1] Nevertheless the film received mixed reviews from some critics.

Production

Bella marks the feature directorial debut for Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, who co-wrote its original screenplay with Patrick Million. Bella features Manuel Perez, Angelica Aragon, Jaime Terelli and Ali Landry. The film was produced by Sean Wolfington, Eduardo Verastegui, Leo Severino, Alejandro Gomez Monteverde and Denise Pinckley and executive produced by J. Eustace Wolfington, Ana Wolfington and Stephen McEveety. It was financed by producers Sean Wolfington and Eustace Wolfington.

Stephen McEveety (producer of Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ) consulted on the script and after the film was finished he signed on as an Executive Producer to help market it. Bella is McEveety's first release under his new company Mpower Pictures.

Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions acquired United States distribution rights to the film and released the film on October 26th, 2007, according to The Hollywood Reporter.[2]

Plot

An international soccer star is on his way to sign a multi-million 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 into an unforgettable experience.

Once a famous athlete, and now a cook at his brother's restaurant, Jose has retreated from the world. But he recognizes something in Nina, a young waitress, and reaches out to her. In the course of a single day, he not only confronts his own haunting past but shows her how the healing power of love can help her embrace the future.

Awards and Honors

Bella took top prize at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival by winning the “People's Choice Award”, putting them in the category of previous Oscar winners such as Chariots of Fire, Life is Beautiful, American Beauty, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and others.[3].

Bella won the Heartland Film Festival's Crystal Heart Award and also won the festivals grand prize of $100,000, which is the largest cash prize of any festival in the world. .[4].

Bella's filmmakers, Eduardo Verastegui & Alejandro Monteverde, received the Smithsonian Institutes "Legacy Award" for it's positive contribution to Latino art and culture.[5].[6] "This movie depicts the culture but also transcends it," said Pilar O'Leary, exec director of the Smithsonian Institute's Latino Center. "It has universal appeal."[7]

Bella received this year's Tony Bennett Media Excellence Award.[3]. Bennett said Bella is "a perfect film, an artistic masterpiece that will live in peoples hearts forever."[8].[9].

The director of the Department of Citizenship gave the director of Bella, Alejandro Monteverde, the "American by Choice" award at a White House reception for Bella's positive contribution to Latino art and culture in the U.S.[10]. Monteverde was also invited to join the first lady in her private box to watch the State of the Union address.[11].

The Mexican Embassy honored Verastegui and Monteverde and gave Bella a screening at their annual Cinco De Mayo celebration.[7]

Bella broke the record for total Box Office and Box Office average per screen for films released in 2007 in it's category (Latino themed films) by generating more than $7.6 million dollars on a film that cost $3 million to make and it was the #1 Top Rated Movie on the New York Times Readers Poll, Yahoo and Fandango.[12].The Wall Street Journal said Bella was "the fall's biggest surprise" and calculated it's gross revenues "after only four weeks in release Bella has total sales of $5.2 million".[13].

Cast

References

  1. ^ Bella best foreign film.
  2. ^ Gregg Goldstein (August 30, 2007). "Roadside takes Bella on US Trip; First Pickup after Lionsgate deal". TheHollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
  3. ^ a b Robert W. Welkos (Dec 04, 2007). "Bella is a Rallying Point". LATimes.com. Retrieved 2007-12-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Lynda Dorf (Oct 20, 2007). "Heartland Film Festival Announces Top Winners". HeartlandFilmFestival.com. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  5. ^ Aaron Glickman (March 13, 2007). "SmithsonianHonorsBella". SocialMiami.com. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  6. ^ Isabel Lara (Aug 30, 2007). "Smithsonian Legacy Awards". Smithsonian Institute. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  7. ^ a b William Triplett (May 7, 2007). Buoyant 'Bella' bow. Variety. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
  8. ^ Roger Friedman (Dec 7, 2007). "Britney Spears; no one wants a piece of her". FoxNews.com. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  9. ^ Tony Bennett (Oct 22, 2007). "Tony Bennett Sings Bella's Praises". YouTube.com. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  10. ^ Aaron Glickman (March 1, 2007). "Bella Producer Sean Wolfington". SocialMiami.com. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  11. ^ Tomas C (Jan 27, 2007). "President invites Mexican Director to sit in first lady's box". HispanicTips.com. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  12. ^ publisher (Nov 03, 2007). "Bella Rockets into #1". WorldNetDaily.com. Retrieved 2007-12-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Anthony Kaufman (Nov 18, 2007). "Stat Snapshot". WallStreetJournal.com. Retrieved 2007-12-06.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bella_(2006_film)&oldid=196898031"