Customer Reviews

A Wedding for Bella

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Call it "My Big Fat Italian Wedding," but with more love, bittersweetness, family feeling, and pastry. "A Wedding for Bella" or "The Bread, My Sweet" has a big heart, narrowly avoiding the oversweetness of such movies. It's a romantic comedy, a tragedy, and a warm tale about family.

Domi (Scott Baio) is a corporate bigwig by day, but owns a bakery that he runs with his two brothers. He has also "adopted" an elderly Italian couple, the grumpy Massimo (John Seitz) and loving Bella (Rosemary Prinz). But one day Bella takes Domi to the hospital, revealing that she has terminal cancer. But she orders him not to tell anyone -- because "I no gonna start dying until I'm ready." But she obviously wishes she could see her wayward daughter Lucca (Kristin Minter) be married.

So Domi quietly tries to contact Lucca, only to have her turn up at Christmas dinner. Within a day, he proposes to her -- just so Bella can see her daughter be married, even if he expects Lucca to go her own way once her mother is dead. Lucca and Domi start awkwardly getting to know one another, all the time hoping that Bella will live to see them wed.

A lot of movies would have lapsed into silly cliches. But as someone of Italian ancestry, I can say honestly that a lot of Italians are like the people of this film: they "got a scream," argue and insult, and yet they're generous and loving to everybody. And love food. Even the broken English Bella and Massimo speak never crosses the line into parody.

But what makes "A Wedding for Bella" so enchanting is that it's not just about a wedding or romance. It's also about love and family, and about living your life to the fullest. It's impossible not to be moved as Bella states that she's going to keep living -- not just surviving -- for as long as possible, and tries to do that. And somehow, this movie manages to do it without sinking into sticky-sweetness.

The story mainly focuses on the very weird courtship between Lucca and Domi, and again it manages not to be soppy or cliched -- one scene has them exchanging questionnaires and information. It's awkward, and it's supposed to be. But even with terminal illnesses and faux weddings, "Wedding" has comedy too, such as the three brothers and Massimo goofing around at the tux fitting.

The star performance of this is undoubtedly Prinz as the dying Bella. She exudes warmth, kindness and a quiet strength. It's easy to see why everyone loves her. There are also stellar performances from Baio and Minter, who make the transition from self-arranged fiancees to lovers believable, and Seitz, who gives the crabby Massimo plenty of heart. And "Van Helsing's" Shuley Hensley gives the most underrated performance of the film as Domi's retarded brother, who loves Bella dearly.

"A Wedding for Bella" ("The Bread, My Sweet") a story about celebrating life, and about love -- between lovers, spouses, and brothers. This tiny film is like bread -- good in every way.

Okay, so I stumbled across this video in the store, and it looked relatively interesting. However, the reviews on the box were so good, that I had to try it out. Well, the truth is, the reviews were right. I LOVED this movie. I mean, loved it. I only have a small number of DVD's in my collection, but this will certainly be one of them. The movie is sweet, with the connection of family being at the forefront of the story. The movie is romantic, with this strong hero taking care of those around him, almost to his detriment (and oh yes, Ladies, Scott Baio is excellent, I mean excellent in this film). The movie is sexy, the chemistry between the hero and heroine is amazing, and I've decided to catalogue one of the lines in my little black book ("You're killing me..."). I'm a sucker for romance and love, and this definitely delivers. FYI: the DVD comes with very few bonus materials, it's pretty much just the movie. That kinda sucks because after you watch the movie, you want to learn more about it. Also, the movie does end a little abruptly, but that may just be a matter of personal taste. Still, all in all, this movie was a gem, and Scott Baio will definitely regain his heart throb status from his, almost exquisite, acting.

I would love to hear if anyone agrees with me on this particular review.

I am writing this review because I have to tell everyone and anyone that they must see this movie. I immediately watched it a second time as I did not want this movie to end (which I have never done before). Even if you do not have roots in Pittsburgh you will thoroughly enjoy the charm and strength of this movie. I am originally from Pittsburgh and my mother's side of the family was very traditional italian---I felt as if I was watching my favorite aunt and uncle in Bella and Massimo. Scott Baio's performance was great and believe me he looked good. He was so handsome and sweet it touches your heart but Rosemary Prinz's performance touched my soul. Believe me after you watch this movie you will want to share it----with everyone.

Here is a hotshot exe. who really want to be a baker. Not fire people. It tickled me when he walked out.

Dom has two older brothers, one who loves to make pies and one who is always looking to get laid.
Yet they are family and have very close bonding.

Ah, the salty language between Massimo and Dom emphize the affection that exists between them. And then there is Bella, such a delightful lady that gives love unstintingly. Her greatest wish is to see every one happy.

Bella wants to see her daughter and have her happily married but she doesn't want to come home. Dom starts leaving messages all over after taking Bella to the hospital. He is ready to make a marriage for Bella.

Soon we get involved with the characters and their facing of Bella's demise. A wonderful blending of familial love and hurt - of powerful emotions - of meeting of life's trials.

This movie grabs you unexpectedly and leaves you knowing you have watch a story of people and not just entertainment.

Highly Recommended

I caught this movie on cable and loved it so much I had to buy it. This is saying a lot, because I rarely watch anything more than once. It has humor and romance, with just the right touch of bittersweet!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE!

I found this in the "cheap" aisle at Walmart. I like Scott Baio and found the description of "a cross between My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Moonstruck" interesting.

Long story short - this is a keeper. A surprise movie. Something only a few of us lucky ones will get to see. Unless, of course, we share it with our friends.

The actors/characters seem to have fallen in love with each other in real life and for the movie. The dialog seems ad-libbed at times, which makes it so cute. The dialog is salty, sweet, tender and real. You wish you really knew these people.

Please do check out this movie. Pretty much assured, you will find something so peaceful with this movie. The way "real life" should be. Loving, kind, caring, gentle.

Considering my husband is a Star Wars/Sci Fi kind of guy, he really enjoyed this movie. It was something different for him - he found it very non-violent. And in this world, that's hard to come by. It was a light, fun movie with funky characters.

This is just a lovely little (probably low-budget) movie which, when discovered and shared, should find a very big following.

Ciao, Bella!!

I had hoped this would be a light romantic film and the critic's reviews were certainly encouraging but it was wonderfully surprising. All of the cast were terrific but in particular Scott Baio, Kristen Minter and Rosemary Prinz. It had a very real touch to the script and direction. Incredibly well done, one of the greatest unknown gem's you'll ever find.

I was looking for a romantic movie, and I got so much more. This movie moved my soul. I was so glad I got it, that I ended up renting it twice. I never wanted it to end. So I decided I must have this for my collection. The characters made you feel like you knew them. The mother & daughter scenes are so real to life, that your imagination gets crossed with reality. You begin to know a mother's heart and understand a daugthers strength. You come away wanting to feel loved just like that pure, plain and simple. I highly recommend this for the uncurable romantic. It is a must see.

A WEDDING FOR BELLA (aka THE BREAD, MY SWEET) is lovely little low budget film that demonstrates how tender the heart can be without the need for big time stars or production values. This film as directed by Melissa Martin reminds us that quiet slices of life in middle America have as much if not more cinematic validity that the big blockbusters. Briefly, Dominic (a very fine Scott Baio!) and his two brothers are bakers and have adopted an older couple (Bella portrayed with understated simplicity and warmth by Rosemary Prinz and Massimo portrayed by John Seitz) as family. Dominic wears two hats: he is a successful businessman in the mid Pittsburgh district but spends as much time with his brothers in the family bakery. Dominic and Bella are especially close and when it is discovered that Bella has terminal cancer, Dominic sets out to find her 'estranged' daughter Lucca (Kristin Minter) who everybody thinks is an unloving carefree beatnik in Mexico. Lucca arrives and with her comes the truth - that she graduated Law School with honors, was disillusioned, left Pittsburgh to be in the Peace Corps to help others, became disillusioned and ended up selling junk art to tourists in Mexico. Her reason for return is not in response to Dominic's pleas (she never got the messages), but to her own need to reunite with the mother whom she adores. Bella's secret wish is that Lucca be happily married and have children, but she also is a wise enough mother to know that her daughter must choose her own life. Dominic decides that the thing that would make Bella happy before she succumbs to her cancer is for Dominic and Lucca to marry! Their intentions thrill Bella and the 'extended family' all concentrate on the energies of wedding preparation to offset Bella's impending demise. The way this all plays out in the end is the meaningful part and to reveal that would not be fair. Suffice it to say that the actors carry off multiple levels of interpersonal relationships, touching on the comedy, the tragedy and the warmth of these marvelous Italian American characters. Yes, the film wears its heart on its sleeve, but who's to say that is wrong? A feel good movie of taste and promise.

The acting is great, the characters are so real and touching, and I cried tears of saddness or delight throughout the entire movie. It was just plain beautiful, and Bella and Massimo reminded me of my parents. I am so, so glad that I rented this movie, and I think that anyone that appreciates a well-done, touching romantic drama would love this film.