Huyendo de Bountiful is a moving drama that tells the story of an elderly woman named Carrie Watts (Ann Mortifee) who desperately wants to return to her hometown of Bountiful, Texas, one last time before she dies. The film is set in the early 1980s and follows Carrie as she escapes from her son Ludie (Richard Bradford) and his overbearing wife Jessie Mae (Geraldine Page) in Houston, Texas, and embarks on a journey to Bountiful, where she hopes to relive old memories and reconnect with her past.
Carrie's journey is not an easy one. She is old, poor, and unable to travel on her own, so she relies on the kindness of strangers and the memories of her youth to keep her going. Along the way, she meets a young woman named Thelma (Carlin Glynn), who befriends her and helps her on her journey.
As Carrie travels through Texas, she remembers the good times she had in Bountiful and the people she used to know, including her best friend, Velma (Lelia Goldoni), and her late husband, Roy (William Gibson). She also realizes that the world has changed since she last visited Bountiful and that her beloved town is not the same as she remembers it.
Despite the challenges, Carrie remains determined to reach Bountiful and is willing to go to great lengths to make it happen. Along the way, she learns important lessons about life, love, and family, and discovers that sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination.
One of the things that makes Huyendo de Bountiful so powerful is the superb acting. Ann Mortifee gives a nuanced and emotionally compelling performance as Carrie, capturing the character's determination, vulnerability, and spirit. The supporting cast is equally impressive, with Carlin Glynn delivering a heartfelt turn as Thelma and Geraldine Page bringing depth and complexity to the role of Jessie Mae.
Another standout feature of the film is the beautiful cinematography, which captures the vast expanse of Texas and the small, intimate moments of Carrie's journey with equal skill. The music for the film is also noteworthy, with a haunting original score by composer J.A.C. Redford that perfectly captures the emotional weight of the story.
Overall, Huyendo de Bountiful is a poignant and moving drama that explores themes of aging, memory, and the search for home. With great performances, beautiful cinematography, and a powerful score, it is a must-see film for anyone who loves heartfelt, character-driven stories.
Huyendo de Bountiful is a 2002 documentary with a runtime of 47 minutes.
