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El Paso Mayor John Cook, city officials and other community leaders today will honor Albuquerque writer Rudolfo Anaya, author of the classic New Mexico novel “Bless Me, Ultima,” but Anaya won’t be there to pick up the key to the city, the El Paso Times reported.
Tom Williams, co-producer of the film version of “Bless Me, Ultima,” will receive the honor on behalf of Anaya, the Times said.
Anaya, 74, won’t be able to attend today’s presentation or the movie’s world premiere at El Paso’s historic 2,000-seat Plaza Theatre on Sept. 17, the paper reported.
“I’ve slowed down a lot, so I mostly just stay home. I can do everything and get around, but I have old age problems. Travel is just a little difficult for me,” Anaya told the Times in a phone interview from Albuquerque.
Carl Franklin, who wrote the screenplay and directed the movie, and various cast members are expected to attend the Hollywood-style red carpet premiere in El Paso in September, and the movie will be shown Sept. 21 in theaters around the West Texas city, the Times said.
For a look at why El Paso was chosen for the premiere instead of Anaya’s home town, check out Journal Assistant Arts Editor Adrian Gomez’s article “‘Ultima’ film slated to premiere in El Paso” in the Albuquerque Journal last week.
