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"Wanna See My
Crystal Heart?" |
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Directed by Alejandro
Monteverde - Written by
Patrick Million
Starring Eduardo
Verastegui, Tammy
Blanchard
Distributed by Roadside
Attractions - 2007 - 91mins - Rated
PG-13 |
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Grand Prize Winner at the 2007 Heartland
Film Festival... |
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The
winner of the $100,000 top prize for Best Dramatic Feature at this
past weekend's 2007 Crystal Heart Awards Gala during the Heartland
Film Festival, "Bella" is a sweet and inspiring, if somewhat slight,
film starring Eduardo Verastegui (Mexican pop and television star)
as Jose and Tammy Blanchard ("The Good Shepherd") as Nina in a story
of two people more or less on the down side of life who manage to
connect over the course of a day and, in the process, plant seeds of
hope within one another.
Sound familiar?
"Bella" is, indeed, a familiar script with pieces of the far more
delightful and authentic "The Girl in the Cafe" and, of course, the
film also shares a certain resonance with the Ethan Hawke/Julie
Delpy films "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset."
"Bella," which also inexplicably captured an Audience Award at the
Toronto International Film Festival, is an ever so slight film that
rests its lofty laurels squarely on the shoulders of its enchanting
leads and their marvelous chemistry. While Verastegui and Blanchard
are certainly game, "Bella" is limited in its emotional impact by a
paint-by-numbers script that seems more intent on waxing poetic
about a variety of issues than in character development or a truly
cohesive storyline.
Both Jose and Nina work in a Mexican restaurant owned by Jose's
brother (Manny Perez), at least until the morning that Nina both
finds out she is pregnant and is fired from her job for being late.
Jose, who is the restaurant's lead chef, ends up leaving the
restaurant just before it opens to accompany Nina on a day of
conversation, visiting the parents and philosophical discussions
about life, love and tragedy.
Apparently, Manny's not going to fire a relative whose
irresponsibility is far worse than that of Nina.
Whereas the conversations that occurred in "The Girl in the Cafe"
felt remarkably authentic and naturally developed, the screenplay by
Patrick Million and director Alejandro Monteverde leans toward
melodramatic and manipulative. While both leads do an admirable job
of bringing their characters to life, the they can't hide the soft
script and unimaginative lensing.
On the strength of the performances alone, "Bella" garners a
recommendation, particularly for the heartfelt performance offered
by Blanchard. As Jose's loving parents, Angelica Aragon and Jaime
Terelli also offer fine performances.
"Bella" continues to wow festival crowds and is set for a limited
national release in the U.S. beginning October 26th. The film also
continues playing throughout the week at the Heartland Film Festival
in Indianapolis.
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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