Bella, making a difference

A few months back while in Tampa on other business we went by the University theater and viewed the movie Bella. I was somewhat reluctant because my wife wanted to see it, had heard great reviews and I, prejudging, wasn’t all that interested in seeing a “chick flick.”

I gotta tell ya, I was wrong. It was a story with a deep plot line, plenty of suspense and twists and just when I thought I had it figured out, a surprise ending. All wrapped up in a story with an uplifting and positive message of life and relationships.

The really sad thing about this movie is that it was so narrowly distributed that the closest place we could find it was Tampa or Orlando. Ocala certainly isn’t a big town, population 46,000 with a metropolitan area of 316,000. Not huge, but nothing to sneeze at either. We have 24 indoor screens in Ocala and not one of them gave us a viewing of Bella.

What brings this subject to mind now is an interview with Eduardo Verástegui I just heard. I subscribe to a number of podcasts and regularly listen to them weeks after the fact. Recently I heard Steve Brown interview Eduardo on his May 23 podcast and was again impressed with not just the movie and the message, but the man.

Here’s someone who has so much going for him. Looks, talent, intelligence, he has it all and has used it in his entertainment career to go places many would only dream of. That coming from an obscure background in a backwater area of Mexico.

Yet, he one time thought to walk away from it all to pursue a path he thought to be less challenging to his values. Thankfully, wise friends and advisors counseled his otherwise. He makes no bones about it; his mission and life priorities have changed. His desire is to make movies that make a difference in the life of those who view them.

Many people make that kind of statement. They want to make a difference. In this case, Eduardo is fulfilling it.

If you want to hear the podcast just click the player below.

If you want to buy the DVD, get it on Amazon.com. If you want to save a few bucks buy it used. Many times I prefer to rent rather than buy a DVD, but this is one that it would do well to view repeatedly.

View the Bella trailer on YouTube where you can also view his Today Show interview.

"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson