March 25, 1997 -- "Selena" is a cut above the average music biography flick, and there have been plenty about musicians dying young. The movies about Buddy Holly "The Buddy Holly Story" and Richie Valens, "La Bamba" come to mind in this regard.

This film, however, not only gives you some insight into a talented young singer, but some insight into Chicano life in the U.S. Most of all, it is a solid love story.

"Selena" tells the true-life story of a pioneering young Tejano singer, Selena Quintanilla Perez, who was tragically killed by the director of her own fan club, Yolanda Saldivar. Thankfully, the film doesn't dwell on the murder, but rather on her life.

When Selena died in 1995, her name was not widely known outside the narrow confines of Tejano music, which is a blend of traditional rhythms with a variety of other musical styles. Selena was in the process of making her "crossover" English album when she died. From all accounts, she on the verge mainstream musical stardom when she was killed.

In some ways, the story of Selena's rise to fame is similar to that of Michael Jackson. Selena, like Jackson, became part of a family band, organized by her father. A family band that became wildly successful only after a lot of hard work.

In this case, the father, well-played by Edward James Olmos, had his own musical group in the 1960s. In one funny scene his band is booed out of a night club for singing music that is too much like gringo music for the patrons.

When he finds out his daughter, Selena (glowingly played by by singer-actress Jennifer Lopez), has a great singing talent, he immediately organizes his children into a band. Against their wishes, he makes them practice until they are competent for public appearances. Although Abraham Quintanilla is a taskmaster, like the father of the Jacksons, he shows a great love of music and a great love for his children.

As the band becomes more popular, another conflict develops between Selena and her father, his disapproval of her love for a guitar player in the band, Chris Perez (Jon Seda). This romance and Selena's reconciliation with her father, are very moving. The actors do a great job with that part of the film.

The musical sequences are well staged, but Lopez' lip synching of Selena's lyrics doesn't quite work in many places. The opening musical sequences of the film include several disco numbers from the 1970s, which is a little disconcerting. It turns out that was the kind of music Selena grew up on.

"Selena" is a good biography. It gives the viewer a good feel for the life of a little-known singer and a glimpse into a world seldom seen in the movies, that is, a non-stereotypical view of the life of a Chicano family. This film rates a B. The director, Gregory Nava, directed one of the few other films show normal Chicano life in the U.S., "Mi Familia (My Family)."

Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 1997 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.