Bella!

In 1970, Bella Abzug entered Congress ready for a fight. With her trademark hat and Bronx swagger, the first elected Feminist upended the Washington patriarchy, battling for credit cards for women, equality for the LGBTQ community and trailblazing a path for leadership to inspire women all over the world.

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.

“Bella!” is the latest film from Vancouver’s own Jeff L. Lieberman (The Amazing Nina Simone, Re-Emerging: The Jews of Nigeria) and features brand new interviews with Barbra Streisand, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Lily Tomlin, Maxine Waters, Shirley MacLaine, Phil Donahue, Marlo Thomas, Charlie Rangel, Scott Stringer and David Dinkins.

Q&A with guest: Writer and Director Jeff L. Lieberman