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Movie Review of La Bamba

La Bamba (1987) is a movie based on the real life story of rock star, Ritchie Valens, a Mexican-American born in Los Angeles, California. Main characters also in the movie are his half-brother Bob Morales, his girlfriend Donna Ludwig, his mother, and other family members. Writer and director of the movie, Luis Valdez credits La Bamba as his most popular movie, partially because of the good rock and roll music. The movie is popular among many different generations and races, because it breaks down stereotypes of the average Mexican-American and tells an American story that everyone can relate to.

Ritchie was a true rags to riches, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, American dream story. His professional career barely lasted eight months, but in that short amount of time he recorded some of the greatest and most influential songs of the 1950s. Though Ritchie strives hard to be a good person, he is not perfect. In a situation where his brother takes him to Tijuana for a night of raunchy fun, Ritchie becomes so drunk he wakes up surprised to see a fresh, new tattoo on his arm. He doesn’t claim to be perfect, but he finds himself in situations that are relatable; we have either been in them ourselves, or know someone who has.

Sibling rivalry is a major conflict in the film. The struggle between brother and brother show a family story that is American –not just Mexican-American. Ritchie had never even previously been to Mexico, nor did he speak Spanish. His half-brother, Bob felt that their mother always favored Ritchie, and it frustrated him into abusing alcohol and drugs. At one point, Bob actually wins $500 in art lessons in an art contest, but he throws away the prize because, in his eyes, his mother just didn’t seem to care enough.

In the film, gender equality is represented with equally strong female and male characters. Though Bob is extremely unlikable, his wife Rosie stands up and talks back to him –unlike the Mexican stereotype that women are simply submissive and domestic. The mother works a full-time job as a waitress, which shows hard-work and perseverance.

A large issue that the film tackles is interracial dating. Ritchie dates Donna, a wealthy Caucasian female new to his high school. Upon the first time of seeing Ritchie walk her home, Donna’s father asks if Ritchie is “Italian” and Donna simply shrugs, because it’s not an issue to her what his ethnicity is. At one point, Donna’s father is so set against them dating, that when Ritchie calls to talk to Donna, he is told that Donna is “busy” and her father even goes as far to suggest that she is seeing other guys. Nonetheless, the two fall in love, and Ritchie even writes the number one hit “Donna” about her.

Due to Keane’s, the talent scout, insistence, Ritchie changed his name. It was originally Richard Steven Valenzuela, but Keane felt that this name would never “catch on.” In argument, he said everyone changed their name –even he had.

There was equality amongst the singers, and fans adored Ritchie. As he became popular so quickly, he soon went on tour with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. The movie ends with Valens, Holly and The Bopper crashing in a plane under a snow storm. Richie is credited for paving the way for and influencing other Latinos like Chris Montez and Carlos Santana. With a classic story that many Americans can relate to, La Bamba shares the epic tale about Mexican-American who proved that he was just as American as everyone else.