Anya's Bell

A sweet story about a boy who has dyslexia and a blind woman "Anya Hepick" Della Reese (Touched by an Angel) who was never introduced to some of the skills taught to the blind during the latter part of this last century, except for reading in Braille. She did not go outside on her own house. She meets little "Scott Rhymes" Mason Gamble (Rushmore), a delivery boy, after her mother who did everything for her died. Nothing spectacular but good solid story telling, a simple made-for TV movie. My favorite quote: Anya: "Is this a long story? I like coffee with my long stories. " My favorite scene: Anya crossing a street all by herself and her cane.

One of those rare feel good films, no action, no swearing, no sex, just a family movie that tackles two subjects together in a film for the first time. The chemistry and interaction between Della Reese, and Mason Gamble is first class, and I challenge anyone to resist shedding a tear in the last 10 minutes.

Della has a long resume, and her gift as an actress allows her to pull off a difficult role, which shows how the world can hold so much fear for someone without sight. Young Mason has a future ahead of him in films, if he keeps his feet on the ground through his teens, and continues to put in performances as good as this.

No explosions, no gunfire, just good acting. It was nice to only have one named star in the movie. I found I could better concentrate on the plot than thinking about what this person had done, or what the other person had acted in. I liked this movie very much. I'd like to know if it's available for sale as I can't seem to find it anywhere.

It's kind of odd, because movies that I can predict usually bore me. And I can honestly say that I figured what was going to happen to Anya by about half way through the movie. DESPITE this, the movie didn't cease to make me smile. And at the end, I even cried. Della Reese's performance is spectacular, with good supporting actors and actresses. A *VERY* good movie!

"Anya's Bell" was somewhat disappointing in how the story was quite predictable, from beginning to end, but thankfully I was very happy (or sad if you will) to discover that it still managed to do what it's supposed to: jerk around the tear canals, and it does so very well.

But then again it's hard to go wrong when you got Della Reese, one of the best African American actresses of her generation and Mason Gamble, one of the best Caucasian child actors of his generation. They make such a wonderful and touching pair I would have liked to see them in an entire mini-series exploring their unique relationship even more so, and following them through several years (all though it would probably be physically impossible with a 13 year old in one of the leads).

Very formulaic but still very beautiful, touching and heartwarming, and a TV-movie not easily forgotten.

And what a touching last scene, when Scott makes sure Anya will always be with him, flying like the wind...