What does the “Bella” phenomena mean

in today’s cultural context?

By Bill Bray

LONG TIME readers will know that I stopped doing regular book and movie reviews a long time ago, but sometimes the buzz about a new media product gets so strong that I simply must comment. Not only do younger Americans define themselves in cinema, but so does much of the contemporary culture.

Such is the case with Bella, an independent production by Metanoia Films staring Tammy Blanchard and Edwardo Verastegui. It is sweeping the country right now; a refreshing, prophetic voice about young men and women that is attracting thinking Christians everywhere.

Even without advertising and marketing, so many friends had recommended it to us that Ivy and I drove an hour each way to see it last Saturday. The drive was worth it. The haunting film was being held over for a second week at a small art theater just off the Mary Baldwin campus in Staunton, Virginia. The story is multi-layered and works well at many levels. I have no doubt it will become a classic.

Bella is full of twists, turns and surprises—and not the least of which is the way it affirms life and adoption. It is about a twenty-something New York waitress who is fired from the upscale Mexican restaurant where she serves tables on the same day she discovers she’s pregnant. It affirms Christian family values, particularly the Latin Christian family, in a beautiful and very sophisticated way. The Puerto Rican chef in the Mexican restaurant where she works befriends her and is a convincing Christ figure.

Although a Christian film, it is not propaganda. It joins a host of other Hollywood films that have dealt with unplanned pregnancies this year in a way that is causing many Christians to rejoice. Your local multiplex has gone “pro-life” in a number of really captivating films in 2007 including Juno starring Ellen Page, Knocked Up with Katherine Heigle, and Waitress with Keri Russell.

While I rejoice that the smart, young women in these movies are shown making the right decision about having their babies under difficult circumstances—especially with non-existent or “buffoon” husbands—these films should make thoughtful Christians very uncomfortable for many reasons.

First of all, believers who patronize these films because of their pro-life message will not find these Hollywood babies being born into wholesome, Biblical families. Parents who really understand the spiritual implications of bringing new life into the world are never portrayed.

Instead, one is encouraged to laugh along with these brave but clueless young mothers who are rising to face the challenges and unexpected terrors of parenthood. There is never any sense of remorse or responsibility for their sins.

It is disturbing that this rush of “mommy films” never includes supportive adults, clergy, the church or mentors. The young women seem to be having their babies out of context of an extended family, their parents or society.

Hollywood continues to reflect these women in a wayward, lost culture still morally detached and out of control. Somehow the girls are making the right choice all by themselves in these scripts without any support from authorities or the absent fathers. The church is AWOL always—the Christian community is disconnected.

These young moms are very much on their own. We have a long way to go before the next generation understands that pregnancy is just the first step on a long journey that ends with children successfully raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord—young adults able to make decisions on marriage, pregnancy and family with eyes wide open.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Wm. Thomas Bray is a journalist, missionary and humanitarian. He is a frequent contributor to Assist News. Since 1966, he has worked with child sponsorship programs, children’s homes, orphanages and schools in over 65 counties. He and his wife Ivy are based in Charlottesville, Virginia from where they are currently working with Exodus Mandate, a project of Frontline Ministries that promotes Christian education for Christian children.

Tax-deductible contributions for the support of Bill & Ivy's Missionary Ministry may be given online, or should be sent to CIS, INC. MISSIONS, P.O. Box 6511, Charlottesville, VA 22906. THANK YOU.