Bella 2006

     This film is based on a true story.  Eduardo and Nina work at a family restaurant in New York.  The restaurant is managed by Eduardo's brother Manny.  Nina has been late for work as a waitress several times and Manny fires her.  Eduardo pleads with Manny to reconsider but he won't change his mind.  Eduardo leaves his post as chef to talk to Nina.  He learns the reasons behind Nina not showing up for work or late.  Manny is beside himself when three tables walk out because they are short on staff.  He chews Eduardo out over his absence.  Eduardo and Nina decide to meet with Eduardo and Manny's parents because Manny has phoned them.  Eduardo doesn't want them to be worried.
     There is a LOT of background information that is not given until later on in the movie.  There are specific reasons for Nina to be late or absent.  Eduardo has a LOT of compassion and empathy for other people because of the events that have happened in his life.  There is no way Eduardo would let Nina be fired without trying to help her and plead her case to Manny.  Tammy Blanchard shows a wide range of emotional expression on her face.  4* (I really liked this movie)   

91 min, Drama directed by Alejandro Monteverde, written by Alejandro and Patrick Million with Eduardo Verastegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Angelica Aragon, Jaime Tirelli, Ramon Rodriguez, Armando Riesco, Sophie Nyweide, Ali Landry Monteverde, Ewa Da Cruz, Alexa Gerasimovich, Herb Lovelle, Tawny Cypress, Doug DeBeech, Michael Mosley.

Note:  Imdb 7.2 out of 10, Roger Ebert 3*, Metacritic 47 out of 100 with 18 critics (5 positive, 9 mixed, 4 negative) 7.7 out of 10 user scores (34 positive, 6 mixed, 7 negative), Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 609 reviews, Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*, Rotten Tomatoes 43 with 65 critics 81% with 20,326 ratings.
 
Special Note:  Filmed in New York City, New York.  The estimated budget was $3,300,000 and the cumulative worldwide gross was $12,083,296.  The father and brother of Director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde were found dead after being kidnapped by a drug cartel on the way to their ranch in Mexico on September 19, 2015.  Alejandro is married to actress and former Miss USA Ali Landry.  They have three children.