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Bella!

Play trailer Poster for Bella! 2023,  1h 42m,  Documentary/ Biography/ History Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 100% 8 Reviews Tomatometer 67% Fewer than 50 Ratings Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
As Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi lead the nation, they travel a path blazed by several women before them, notably Bella Abzug. In 1970, when the United States was ruled by men, Bella challenged the status quo, running a successful campaign from the streets of Manhattan that elevated her all the way to the halls of Congress. With her trademark hat and Bronx swagger, Bella entered Congress swinging, battling for credit cards for women, equality for the LGBTQ community and trailblazing a path for leadership that reflected the broad diversity of the country. But, the most recognizable woman in politics also became the target of a Washington establishment resistant to change. With her eyes set on breaking the boys' club of The US Senate or becoming New York's first female mayor, Bella battled mounting forces from both the right and the left, and the powers of the Nixon Administration, the CIA, FBI, even The New York Times. Using never-before-seen home movies, audio diaries, and a vast trove of newly-discovered news footage, Bella! delves into a colorful and gritty era where one woman sacrificed her own political ambitions for future generations of female leadership.

Critics Reviews

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Nicolas Rapold New York Times Aug 17, 2023
Her never-say-die advocacy still inspires, but the film also illustrates the merciless challenges of electoral endurance even for the fiercest fighter. Go to Full Review
Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht Apr 6, 2026
It’s all pretty straightforward in telling the story of Abzug’s rise, her career, and her many political defeats and comebacks, leading up to her death in 1998. Go to Full Review
Christopher Campbell Nonfics (Substack) Mar 16, 2026
A basic but necessary biographical documentary about Congresswoman and feminist movement icon Bella Abzug (I’m surprised she hadn’t already received one). Go to Full Review
John Paul King Washington Blade Mar 1, 2024
Lieberman tells the story of a passionate, courageous, brilliant, woman, one who made a real difference in all women’s lives. But more than that, she made a difference in everyone’s life; men, women, minorities, and the LGBTQ community. Go to Full Review
Andy Klein FilmWeek (LAist) Nov 29, 2023
I thought this was a pretty riveting documentary even with a subject matter I'm theoretically not very interested in. Go to Full Review
Lael Loewenstein FilmWeek (LAist) Sep 7, 2023
I found it to be very well-researched and thoroughly engaging. Go to Full Review
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Bella!

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Jeff L. Lieberman

Director

Bella Abzug

Self

Nancy Pelosi

Self

Hillary Clinton

Self

Barbra Streisand

Self

Shirley MacLaine

Self

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Bella!

Bella! (2023) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis As Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi lead the nation, they travel a path blazed by several women before them, notably Bella Abzug. In 1970, when the United States was ruled by men, Bella challenged the status quo, running a successful campaign from the streets of Manhattan that elevated her all the way to the halls of Congress. With her trademark hat and Bronx swagger, Bella entered Congress swinging, battling for credit cards for women, equality for the LGBTQ community and trailblazing a path for leadership that reflected the broad diversity of the country. But, the most recognizable woman in politics also became the target of a Washington establishment resistant to change. With her eyes set on breaking the boys' club of The US Senate or becoming New York's first female mayor, Bella battled mounting forces from both the right and the left, and the powers of the Nixon Administration, the CIA, FBI, even The New York Times. Using never-before-seen home movies, audio diaries, and a vast trove of newly-discovered news footage, Bella! delves into a colorful and gritty era where one woman sacrificed her own political ambitions for future generations of female leadership.
Director
Jeff L. Lieberman
Producer
Jeff L. Lieberman, Jamila Fairley
Screenwriter
Jeff L. Lieberman
Production Co
Re-Emerging Films
Genre
Documentary, Biography, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 22, 2023, Limited
Runtime
1h 42m
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