CHESTNUT HILL -- While the Red Sox were clinching the ACLS, the movie “Bella” hit a home run at a private screening at Boston College.

The Sox will be in the middle of the World Series when “Bella” hits theaters in New York City and more than 30 other markets on Oct. 26. The movie is expected to premiere in the Boston area sometime in November.

Viewers said “Bella” was beautiful, hopeful and upheld the dignity of the human person. The film’s strong pro-life message enamored the audience, which represented nearly 60 parishes and other Catholic organizations in the Archdiocese of Boston. The archdiocese’s Pro-Life Office is working with these groups to bring the film to theaters in Eastern Massachusetts.

“Bella,” a 2006 film produced by Metanoia Films, won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. The movie has also broken the record for the most pre-sold tickets of any movie in the United States.

Marianne Luthin, director of the archdiocese’s Pro-Life Office, said the film’s pre-selling success is a result of screenings in dioceses throughout the country where Catholics “have made a commitment to help this incredibly beautiful film.”

The movie can have a tremendous impact in building a true culture of life, she said, adding “‘Bella’ gives an opportunity to change hearts and to change lives.”

“Bella,” which means “beautiful” in Spanish, chronicles the life of Jose, who experiences a tragedy that changes his entire life and destroys his budding soccer career. He becomes a chef, working in his brother’s New York City restaurant, and befriends one of the waitresses, Nina, who is fired for arriving late. He discovers that the reason for her tardiness is that she is pregnant. Without the support of the child’s father, Nina believes her only choice is abortion.

Jose listens patiently to her concerns, shares his own tragedy and realizes that his pain is an opportunity to save the life of this child.

The changes Jose experiences mirror the behind-the-scene’s conversion story of the film’s star, Eduardo Verastegui. The actor who played Jose recounted the changes in his life in a trailer following the screening.

After a decade as a famous Mexican singer and soap star, Verastegui found that his life was empty and superficial. Instead of using his talents to contribute to bettering the world, he was poisoning the society with the projects he worked on, Verastegui said.

“I knew that I wasn’t born to be a movie star or famous actor. Those things are just means,” he said. “I was born to know, to love and to serve Jesus Christ.”

Later, he met former 20th Century Fox entertainment lawyer Leo Severino after a weekday Mass in 2004 at Good Shepherd Parish in Beverly Hills. The two formed Metanoia Films and began work on their first project, “Bella.”

Before filming, Verastegui researched his role by visiting an abortion clinic. Shocked by the sight of teenage girls entering the clinic, Verastegui was asked by sidewalk counselors to speak to a young couple from Mexico who did not speak any English. The two immediately recognized the former soap star and spoke with him for almost an hour.

Months later, Verastegui received a call from the couple to let him know that their baby boy was born and to ask for his permission to name the baby Eduardo.

“I put the phone down, and I couldn’t even talk. It’s the most noble thing I have ever done in my life,” he said. “By the grace of God, I was able to save this baby.”

Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley addressed the crowd at the screening, saying that “Bella” captures the essence of the pro-life movement. He previously viewed the movie at a June meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.