redemption. ("bella")

The human spirit is drawn to redemption as powerfully and frequently as a moth to the light, or a mosquito to human blood. It is a theme that cannot be explored enough, and in every exploration, whether secular or sacred, the power of the truth of redemption brings out the most intense emotions imaginable. I come across it constantly in literature, music, and film; most notably in Asher Lev (Potok) and The Kite Runner (Hosseini) and most recently in the film “Bella.”

The thing about independent films is, the writers, directors and actors work with a passion for their story that is unseen in any multi-billion dollar blockbuster. Without unnecessary effects or advertisement, the truth of the story rings clear. These kinds of film consistently impact me with the same force as a classic work of literature, for their story-telling is always phenomenal. “Bella” was no exception, and though my expectations were high, I was not disappointed. A fatal accident pushes one man into an insatiable quest for appropriate penance, which is ultimately provided in the predicament of a colleague who becomes a trusted friend. Likewise, this friend experiences her own redemption in her choice to overcome her mother’s neglect by returning to her young daughter. Real life, real situations, real pain and heartache, and real choices that are not glamorous, but right. The human spirit knows and recognizes their rightness, and rejoices in the redemption that comes from it. How? Can we attribute it to universal truth that our humanistic society so vehemently protests? Indeed, it’s there, and it’s undeniable. And those of us who know the Story of the Ultimate Redemption of Mankind understand that these other stories we tell are mere shadows of what is more fully True.