The Mexican American coming-of-age novel “Bless Me, Última” is set to grace the silver screen in February, as the independent film adaptation will see a limited release on February 22. The film is based, of course, on the novel by Rudolfo Anaya and follows the story of a boy named Antonio growing up in World War II-era New Mexico and learning about the spiritual world from his curandera grandmother, Última.
Originally published in 1972, the book has sold hundreds of thousands of copies since, and received a myriad of accolades. Former First Lady Laura Bush selected the book as one of her “25 books to read,” has been highlighted by the National Endowment for the Arts and has won all manner of awards.
The book is one of the most widely read works of Mexican American literature in the country, but has sporadically caused controversy due to some of the scenes and themes in the book.
Among the reasons the book has been controversial, or that some have tried to ban it from schools, are: the treatment of non-Christian spiritual beliefs, curse words, and sexual content, among other things.
Anaya told The Los Angeles Times in 2009 when one California school banned the book, “What are these people afraid of? We have ample evidence throughout history of what happens when we start banning books, when we are afraid of ideas and discussion and analytical thinking. The society will suffer.”
The film features several Latino actors in major roles, including: Miriam Colón, Joaquín Cosío and Dolores Heredia.
Previousy released in El Paso and New Mexico to much success, the movie will be expanded into more than 200 theaters in February.
Many of the cities included in the release are in the Southwest, where the majority of Mexican Americans in the U.S. are concentrated, such as: Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio, Las Vegas and Denver, although Chicago and Miami will also screen the film.
You can see the trailer and read more about the film on the website.
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[...] “Bless Me, Ultima,” based on the 1972 novel by Rudolfo Anaya, will be released to more than 200 … in February, according to Politic365. [...]
An absolutely awesome movie. My Mother is in the First Holy Communion scene at our church in Abiquiu!
I saw it at the world premiere in El Paso–a beautiful movie, both visually and emotionally.
Wish it would come to Columbia!
Will this film be shown in Washington, DC?
Read the book years ago, can’t wait to see the movie. My mother-in-law is in the movie.
I read this book years ago and introduced it to my students a the school I worked at. The students really liked it. My mother was a curandera in the city we lived. How I wish that I could have been like my precious mother. God Blessed her doing the things she did. I am going to see this movie for sure!
I read this book in middle school, and own 3 copies, can’t wait for it to come to Los Angeles.