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'Bless Me, Ultima' has moments where its magical realism shines

( PG-13 ) ( Monitor Movie Guide )

'Ultima' strains to be a classic, but the film does have lovely sections.

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Arenas Entertainment/AP
'Bless Me, Ultima' stars Luke Ganalon (l.) and Miriam Colon (r.).
  • By Peter Rainer Film critic

Rudolfo Anaya鈥檚 1972 novel 鈥淏less Me, Ultima鈥� is a classic of Chicano literature and the movie it鈥檚 based on strains to be a classic as well. It鈥檚 about 6-year-old Antonio (Luke Ganalon), who comes of age in rural New Mexico when his native healer grandmother Ultima (Miriam Colon) comes to live with his family. Antonio witnesses all manner of grace and bloodshed. He tries to reconcile the teachings of his Roman Catholic education with the mysticism all around him as incarnated by Ultima.

Writer-director Carl Franklin offers up a tone of heightened reverence that weighs down the material, but there are small, lovely moments when the magic realism approaches the magical. Grade: B (Rated PG-13 for some violence and sexual references.)

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