I only recommend movies cautiously.  But, last night as a family we had the opportunity to go to a special screening of Bella, a movie (as one reviewer summarized it) “about life, love . . .and the love of life.”

It is a drama about two people facing the reality of the life altering consequences of decisions–a hidden past, an uncertain future.

Themes that come through the movie are the value of family, the need for friendship, the reality of consequences and the value of life.

It is an independent, low budget movie, but well done.  It won the Toronto International Film Festival people’s choice aware in 2006.

This is a movie worth seeing, worth taking your teens to see.  It is rated PG13, but not for language or sensuality.  There are several intense moments that may not be suitable for young children, especially the more sensitive ones.

The timeline of the movie is a bit hard to follow in a few places, but this will give you the opportunity to talk about the movie and the message with those you see it with.

Check out the clips–trailer and Eduardo’s story to see the real life results of the movie.

We also liked the first line in the movie, “My grandmother used to say, ‘You want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans.'”