Bless Me, Ultima (film)

Bless Me, Ultima
Film poster
Directed by Carl Franklin
Produced by Jesse Beaton
Sarah DiLeo
Mark Johnson
Screenplay by Carl Franklin
Based on Bless Me, Ultima
by Rudolfo Anaya
Starring Luke Ganalon
Míriam Colón
Music by Mark Kilian
Cinematography Paula Huidobro
Edited by Alan Heim
Production
company
Gran Via Productions
Monarch Pictures
Monkey Hill Films
Tenaja Productions
Distributed by Arenas Entertainment
Release date
 February 22, 2013
Running time
 106 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $1,553,826[1]

Bless Me, Ultima is a 2013 film directed by Carl Franklin.[2] It is an adaptation of the 1972 novel of the same name by Rudolfo Anaya.

Plot

A drama set in New Mexico during World War II, 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.

Cast

  • Luke Ganalon as Antonio
  • Míriam Colón as Ultima
  • Benito Martinez as Gabriel
  • Dolores Heredia as Maria
  • Cástulo Guerra as Tenorio
  • Alfred Molina as voice of Antonio
  • Joaquín Cosío as Narciso
  • Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Uncle Pedro
  • Reko Moreno as Uncle Lucas
  • Luis Bordonada as Uncle Juan
  • Joseph A. Garcia as Uncle Mateo
  • Raúl Castillo as Andrew
  • Miguel Gomez as Eugene
  • Alejandro Cabrera as Leon
  • Diego Miró as Florence
  • Kevin Ruiz as Horse
  • Juan Martinez as Ernie
  • Gabriel Solis as Abel
  • Christian Traeumer as Bones
  • Julian Ortega as Vitamin Kid
  • Sebastian Tyler Rose as Red
  • Aaron Ruiz as Cico
  • Darrian Chavez as Deborah
  • Julia Flores as Theresa
  • David Rees Snell as Father Byrnes
  • Bernardo Saracino as Lupito
  • Lora Martinez-Cunningham as Miss Maestas
  • Roseanne Vau as Miss Violet
  • Hemky Madera as Chavez
  • David Manzanares as Blas Montano
  • Rick A. Ortega Jr. as Cruz Sedillo
  • Anthony Escobar as Needles
  • Lisa Hill as Rosie
  • Monique Candelaria as Monique
  • Ciauna Cota as Agnes
  • Alexandra Salinas as Rita
  • David Benavidez as David
  • Rafael Herrera as Bartender
  • Fredrick Lopez as Vaquero #1
  • Manuel J. Baca as Vaquero #2 (as Manny Baca)
  • Lena Armstrong as Pedro's wife
  • Denise Gurule as Juan's Wife

Production

Variety reported on March 2, 2009[3] that Christy Walton, heiress to the Walton fortune, had set up Tenaja Productions company solely to finance a film adaptation of Bless Me, Ultima. Monkey Hill Films' Sarah DiLeo is billed as producer with collaboration and support from Mark Johnson (producer) of Gran Via Productions (Rain Man, Chronicles of Narnia) and Jesse B. Franklin of Monarch Pictures. Carl Franklin (One False Move, Devil in a Blue Dress, Out of Time) was tapped as a writer and director. Walton and DiLeo shared a passion for the book, and the latter had succeeded in convincing Anaya to agree to the adaptation over six years back.[4]

Shooting was scheduled in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area, and then resumed in Santa Fe for some interiors at Garson Studios on the Santa Fe University of Art and Design campus during the last week in October 2010.[5] Filming wrapped in Santa Fe, New Mexico in late 2010.[6] The film credits thank The College of Santa Fe, Ruby Ranch, The Pecos River Ranch, Santa Cruz Lake Recreational Area, and Albuquerque. Locations include Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rowe, New Mexico, Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Release

Bless Me, Ultima premiered at the Plaza Theatre in El Paso, Texas on September 17, 2012[7] and received a general release in February 2013.[8]

Reception

Bless Me, Ultima has a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 34 reviews.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Bless Me Ultima (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  2. ↑ "Bless Me, Ultima (2011) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  3. ↑ Wal-Mart's Walton books film debut retrieved December 30, 2011
  4. ↑ Flash Back Fridays: Bless Me, Ultima 03/13/2009 retrieved December 30, 2011
  5. ↑ "Santa Fe stars as backdrop in classic novel-turned-film 'Bless Me, Ultima'". SantaFeNewMexican.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ FIND Talent Guide
  7. ↑ María Cortés González, "'Bless Me, Ultima' premiere in El Paso is Plaza Theatre's first in 63 years" Archived 2013-04-09 at Archive.is, El Paso Times, September 18, 2012.
  8. ↑ Ana Gershanik, "Sarah DiLeo of New Orleans produces first film, 'Bless Me, Ultima,' opening Feb. 22", Times-Picayune, February 21, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Bless Me, Ultima". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
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