Bless Me, Ultima (film)
Bless Me, Ultima is a 2013 drama film directed by Carl Franklin and starring Luke Ganalon and Míriam Colón.[2] It is an adaptation of the 1972 novel of the same name by Rudolfo Anaya.
| 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] |
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 69% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes based on 36 reviews.[9]
References
- "Bless Me Ultima (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
- "Bless Me, Ultima (2011) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
- Wal-Mart's Walton books film debut retrieved December 30, 2011
- Flash Back Fridays: Bless Me, Ultima 03/13/2009 retrieved December 30, 2011
- "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.
- "FIND Talent Guide". Archived from the original on 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
- María Cortés González, "'Bless Me, Ultima' premiere in El Paso is Plaza Theatre's first in 63 years" Archived 2013-04-09 at Archive.today, El Paso Times, September 18, 2012.
- Ana Gershanik, "Sarah DiLeo of New Orleans produces first film, 'Bless Me, Ultima,' opening Feb. 22" Archived 2013-02-25 at the Wayback Machine, Times-Picayune, February 21, 2013.
- "Bless Me, Ultima". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2019-02-12.