Nerds That Geek Documentary Review: ‘Bella!’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Bella Abzug in Jeff L. Lieberman’s BELLA! Photo courtesy of Re-Emerging Films.

One thing that we can all agree upon, is that in this moment… we have a deep disapproval of the members of Congress as a whole. Simply because so many of them are loyal to party and agenda, and ideology over being loyal to the will of the people. Plus, quite a few of them are more concerned with their investments and their bank accounts over fiscal responsibility and taking care of wages and other such matters for the people that put them in office. Giving rise to real disdain right now, and a real sense that Congress is not for the people, but for the corporations and their respective interests. 
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In fact, one could cite that it has always been that way since it’s been a bit since we’ve really seen Congress perform the will of the people. But believe it or not, there have been members of Congress that break that particular mold. Who actually wanted to go to Washington to work and do right by the people that voted for them in the first place and put forth legislation that actually makes life better for the everyday citizen, instead of CEOs, and there have even been some members of Congress… that actually went above and beyond the basics of their job. Who did as much as they could for the people of the world and genuinely wanted to see the world be a better place and they are who we should be focusing upon more often.

So that we celebrate and honor their legacy and use them to inspire others to rise to office and root out the career potatoes that love power over hard work and well, it just so happens that a powerful documentary is about to make its Washington D.C. debut that accomplishes just that. For Bella! is the comprehensive story of Congresswoman Bella Abzug, who in 1970, changed the world quite frankly. For this lawyer turned lawmaker was nothing short of a trailblazer that put forth the foundation for some of the equal rights that are enjoyed now and inspired so many more women to be seen and heard in a world where old men rule the day and well, that alone is worth the price of admission regarding this documentary.

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But it just so happens to offer so much more. Such as a comprehensive and powerful look at Bella’s life from beginning to end. Which helps us to understand her humble origins and what drove her to want to go from having a successful law practice to serving the people of New York and the United States of America and Planet Earth for that matter as well. Which makes for a fascinating journey that deeply explores the good within Bella, the fight that resided within her to ensure that people were indeed granted equal rights under the promise of the Constitution and that truly does help us to get to know a lawmaker that quite frankly, isn’t celebrated enough, nor is her legacy. 
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It is that legacy however, that truly allows for this documentary to shine. Because we are able to hear from women such as Nancy Pelosi, and Barbara Streisand about what Bella’s fire and vision for America and equal rights, did for them. How it pushed Nancy and others into politics to make a difference as she did and inspired so many women to speak up and fight for what’s right in this world and how… she more or less opened the door for so many young women today and that’s just incredible. Because in a world of billions of people, it’s hard to make an impact that is generational in nature, but this documentary points out how Bella did that and how her actions will continue to do that for years on end.

All of which makes this, a special and important documentary. One that truly celebrates the life and career of that rare individual that is a true beacon of hope and inspiration, and writer/director Jeff L. Liberman does such an incredible job of chronicling all of that in a brisk and powerful manner, that you’re utterly captivated by this story and hanging on every word spoken about the life and times of one amazing individual. Which makes this necessary viewing, since it restores one’s faith in humanity, and truly gives one pause in all the right ways. For this really does chronicle how one person can make a difference when they really put their mind to it, and how there are great people still in this world, willing to put in the work to make it what we’ve always dreamed it could be.

To see ‘Bella!’ during its March 14-18, 2024, Washington D.C. theatrical tun, purchase tickets here.

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