I watched Bless me, Ultima, yesterday. A good movie to review how perceptions, beliefs and faith itself gets formulated in one's life, early on. The character of Tonio is central, and so is that of Ultima. However, what really grips one is the sincere search of Tonio for answers. He witnesses several things in and around him... in the neighbourhood, in his extended family, among his own siblings... The arrival of Ultima, serves as a great blessing for him. He begins to open up, though he does not understand fully. It is also amazing to see how the 'Church' (the priest, the construct of the 'church' in the family, school, friends, non-Catholics, society...) miserably fails to satisfy Tonio's quest.
However, it is important to notice how Tonio makes his own understanding of the situation and shows a maturity well beyond his years. The scene where Tonio is forced to enact as a priest at the confessional, by his friends in school, is really great. It gives one a glimpse of Tonio's grasp of God, faith, forgiveness, religion and evil.
The scene during the First Communion too is very poignant. There's the first boy who nearly chokes on the host! How realistically portrayed! Then there is the one after Tonio, who when asked if he feels anything (after receiving Communion) replies, "I feel hungry." Then there is Tonio himself, awaiting for that great revelation to happen, because now he is 'one with God'. He awaits God to answer his questions about the evil he witnesses in his life. The disappointment is evident on his face.
The brief conversation he has with his father in the van, on his way to his uncles' farm presents the other side of reality. A simple but profound perception of good and evil. (Click here to read some of the prominent quotes of the movie and the novel).
The film does not take sides. Neither does it preach. It basically chronicles the sincere effort of a young boy seeking answers in a world where good and evil are all too often mixed up and no one really dares / seeks / wishes to get involved. Most people prefer to watch on the sidelines as by-standers rather than get involved or take sides, on behalf of what they evidently see as good.
However, it is important to notice how Tonio makes his own understanding of the situation and shows a maturity well beyond his years. The scene where Tonio is forced to enact as a priest at the confessional, by his friends in school, is really great. It gives one a glimpse of Tonio's grasp of God, faith, forgiveness, religion and evil.
The scene during the First Communion too is very poignant. There's the first boy who nearly chokes on the host! How realistically portrayed! Then there is the one after Tonio, who when asked if he feels anything (after receiving Communion) replies, "I feel hungry." Then there is Tonio himself, awaiting for that great revelation to happen, because now he is 'one with God'. He awaits God to answer his questions about the evil he witnesses in his life. The disappointment is evident on his face.
The brief conversation he has with his father in the van, on his way to his uncles' farm presents the other side of reality. A simple but profound perception of good and evil. (Click here to read some of the prominent quotes of the movie and the novel).
The film does not take sides. Neither does it preach. It basically chronicles the sincere effort of a young boy seeking answers in a world where good and evil are all too often mixed up and no one really dares / seeks / wishes to get involved. Most people prefer to watch on the sidelines as by-standers rather than get involved or take sides, on behalf of what they evidently see as good.
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