Bella On a Second Reflection…

…was even more moving than the first time.

Lillian and Leila got to see the movie this past weekend (as they commented about in Katie’s post just below this one) and they were similarly touched by it.

Katie and I went yesterday as guests of Texas Alliance for Life, the organization that Katie worked at this past legislative session and still volunteers for sometimes. I was struck by many more parts of the movie during this second viewing; details jumped out at me that I missed entirely the first time; also, the movie made my eyes water up about 4 times, even though I already knew what was coming.

One of the most compelling aspects of Bella is that the characters’ lives are believable. None of them is perfect, and the lead ones have done things or had bad things happen to them that have wounded them deeply and left them with great remorse or resentment.

Even so, they are human beings seeking to live good lives, searching for love, while struggling with their past and present problems. Throughout the movie, the beauty of life, even everyday-difficult life, shines brightly.

Ultimately, both of the main characters have a decision to make about whether they will heroically give themselves for another or choose the way of self, which extinguishes the only thing that can heal them: love.

Many of my friends did not get to see the movie this weekend: I urge you to go (out of your way if necessary) and see it this week or next weekend. One of my friends told me that next weekend is vital to the success of the movie, too, because it shows whether the movie is so good that more people see than on opening weekend.

God bless you!