Bless Me, Ultima

See this Movie!!
We just came home from seeing Bless Me, Ultima at the theater. The beauty of this movie is breathtaking..... images, music, story. I highly recommend this film. Of course, the book by the same title written by Rudolfo Anaya is incredible and the movie does an excellent job of capturing the emotion of the book. I live in New Mexico and this film evokes the magic and majesty of the state.

I plan to purchase a copy of this film as soon as it is available.
Close To Perfection
I'm retired, and see 150-180 films a year. Bless Me, Ultima appeared in my local theatre with no hint it was coming via trailers or advertising. It is close to perfection. A good story for adult viewers, a beautiful
natural setting, and actors/acting for which you can only feel affection. This is a gem appreciated by small
audiences.
Culture Clash in New Mexico
Based on the novel by Rudolfo Anaya, this PG-13 coming-of-age story is set in rural New Mexico late in WWII. When a New Mexican boy starts the first grade in 1944, he carries a red Big Chief tablet identical to the one I carried to the first grade in 1945! When his much-loved grandmother arrives to spend her last days with his family, he can't help but notice that an owl also has taken up residence.

He sees a culture clash that includes traditional ways, witchcraft, Catholicism, and just a bit of secular U.S. Army after his adult brothers return from the war.

We see:
* Luke Ganalon (television roles) as Antonio, the super-observant first grader who witnesses the fatal actions of an hysterical posse, the bullying of a lonely classmate, the damage wrought by a faithless priest, the inspiration of a wonderful school teacher, and the healing powers of his beloved abuela.
* Miriam Colon ("The Southside") is Ultima, the healer who is immediately called on...
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