Bless Me, Ultima (2013)

A drama set in New Mexico during WWII, centered on the relationship between a young man and an elderly medicine woman who helps him contend with the battle between good and evil that rages in his village.

Director:

Carl Franklin

Writers:

Rudolfo Anaya (novel), Carl Franklin (screenplay)

Stars:

Luke Ganalon, Miriam Colon, Benito Martinez

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Luke Ganalon	...	Antonio
Miriam Colon	...	Ultima
Benito Martinez	...	Gabriel
Dolores Heredia	...	Maria
Castulo Guerra	...	Tenorio
Joaquín Cosio	...	Narciso
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo	...	Uncle Pedro
Reko Moreno	...	Uncle Lucas
Luis Bordonada	...	Uncle Juan
Joseph A. Garcia	...	Uncle Mateo
Raúl Castillo	...	Andrew
Miguel Gomez	...	Eugene
Alejandro Cabrera	...	Leon
Diego Miró	...	Florence
Kevin Ruiz	...	Horse

Storyline

A drama set in New Mexico during WWII, centered on the relationship between a young man and an elderly medicine woman who helps him contend with the battle between good and evil that rages in his village.

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Plot Keywords:

new mexico | medicine woman | world war two | catholic priest | magical realism | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence and sexual references.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

22 February 2013 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gran Via Productions, Monarch Pictures, Monkey Hill Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Antonio: Bless me, Ultima.
Ultima: I bless you in the name of all that is good and strong and beautiful.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)

User Reviews

Best movie about our culture since Salt of the Earth

Best movie about our gente since Salt of the Earth. Must watch! No clichés here. Just a sweet, subtle, and poignant coming of age story set in the beautiful, but troubled post WWII landscape of northern New Mexico. Few films make you feel like you're reading a novel-- refreshingly, this one does justice to Rudolfo Anaya's timeless classic. The arc climaxes with little fanfare, but you will no doubt be left with a sense of how and why the supernatural, deeply woven into the daily life of these comunidades, helps people navigate the paradoxes of "good" and "evil." In a period when Latinos, as a demographic are coming of age politically, and while at once courted and loathed, Bless Me, Ultima is timely, but also transcendent and universal. Don't miss it!