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Film's screening to benefit local maternity home
| Thursday, Nov 15 2007 8:45 AM
Last Updated: Friday, Nov 16 2007 3:22 PM
The makers of indie flick "Bella," about a young, pregnant waitress and her fallen friend, insist it doesn't carry an anti-abortion message. The film is about redemption, they say.
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Eduardo Verástegui as José and Tammy Blanchard as Nina in "BELLA," directed by Alejandro Monteverde.
Eduardo Verástegui as José in "BELLA," directed by Alejandro Monteverde.
At the same time, they're encouraging churches, Christian organizations and other groups nationwide to promote the film, and the groups are driving ticket sales.
In Bakersfield, St. Gianna's Maternity Home will offer a private screening. It's selling tickets to a Friday night showing at the Fox Theater, with proceeds benefiting the pregnant women's home. "Bella" also opens Friday at UA East Hills Mall 10.
Last weekend, local Catholic priests encouraged parishioners to purchase tickets from St. Gianna's at church before and after Mass.
"It is an inspirational film, a message of life," said the home's executive director, Amanda Baeza.
Proceeds will pay for operating expenses at St. Gianna's Maternity Home, which opened Sept. 8, she said. The home provides shelter, food and clothing to pregnant women in crisis who are 18 and older. One woman is staying at the moment, but the home can accommodate up to eight, Baeza said.
In "Bella," a former Mexican soccer star turned chef befriends a pregnant waitress fired from his brother's restaurant. Marred by a career-halting tragedy involving a child, he comforts the young woman and is adamant she should continue the pregnancy.
While some say the anti-abortion message is obvious, Eric d'Arbeloff, co-president of "Bella" distributor Roadside Attractions, said he's not keen on "Bella" becoming a "political football."
"If people want to read an agenda into it, that's their prerogative," he added.
Co-writer and co-producer Leo Severino thinks of "Bella" as an inspirational film about a guy "who lost it all, but in losing it all he finds everything that matters in life."
It "just so happens," he said, that anti-abortion activists have gotten behind the film. It would break his heart, he added, if pro-abortion viewers turned away from the film.
"Politics, to us, divides so much, and art has a tendency to unite," he said. "There's no political message to the film. It's meant for all people."
Baeza heard the "Bella" hype at a Catholic conference in July. Another staffer saw it and recommended the film, so Baeza signed up through the film's Web site to host a screening.
She's seen a strong local response. Last Thursday, the phone rang off the hook, she said. Baeza hopes to sell 1,500 tickets.
Monsignor Ronald Swett of St. Philip the Apostle Church on Stockdale Highway encouraged congregants to buy tickets at last weekend's services. He hasn't seen the film, but plans to.
"From all reports, it's a very positive message, very family oriented, but has some good strong (messages) on pro-life and on family," he said.
He said he doesn't normally promote films, but "to find something about love and family that's presented in a very positive way -- those aren't easy to find out there."
Catholic media and Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, have been significant promoters of the film, said Swett and Baeza.
St. Francis Church on H Street is also encouraging congregants to attend, said parish administrator Judy Jacobs.
"'Bella' is about preserving life at any cost, which is something Catholics believe," she said.
Candi Easter, chairwoman for the Kern County Democratic Party, said she's gathered women to watch "The Cider House Rules," a film with an abortion-rights slant. She hasn't seen "Bella" and has no problem with churches encouraging members to watch movies that support their viewpoints.
"What I have a problem with is when churches try to get themselves involved in politics," she said. "Then I really do have a real issue."
Although the religious marketing is reminiscent of Mel Gibson's controversial and bloody film "The Passion of the Christ," which Christian groups promoted heavily, d'Arbeloff hesitated to draw comparisons.
"It was really a divisive movie, and I feel like this movie is the opposite," he said. "This is a movie that can join people together."
The film's success depends on word-of-mouth advertising and press, he said. The company has taken advantage of its Web site, providing instructions for hosting private screenings. Fans can also send e-mail blasts -- postcards encouraging others to see the film. "Bella" online encourages viewers to flood movie review sites with positive feedback.
The exec said he hasn't heard of other maternity homes with plans to screen the film.
"I'm just happy to have their business, frankly," he said of groups like St. Gianna's. "It's up to them how they want to use the screening."
By the numbers
160: Number of screens film debuted nationwide on Oct. 26
500: Screens expected to show film by this weekend
$1.3 million: Ticket sales on opening weekend
$4 million: Total earnings by last weekend
Source: Roadside Attractions
Go & Do
What: Screening of “Bella” (PG-13), benefiting St. Gianna’s Maternity Home.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Fox Theater
Tickets: $20 adults, $10 ages 18 and under, through St. Gianna’s Maternity Home, 3811 Mount Vernon Ave., or at the theater starting at 4 p.m. day of show
Phone: St. Gianna’s, 872-BABY
“Bella” will play at UA East Hills Mall 10 starting Friday. Call 800-326-3264 (FANDANGO) or visit Fandango.com for ticket prices and show times.