LA BAMBA
US, 1987, 117 minutes, Colour.
Lou Diamond Philips, Esai Morales, Rosana de Soto, Elizabeth Pena, Danielle von Zernick, Joe Pantoliano.
Directed by Luis Valdez.
La Bamba is a surprisingly interesting and entertaining film. While it re-creates Ritchie Valens' brief months as a rock and roll star until his untimely death in the plane crash that claimed Buddy Holly's life, it is a strong story about a Hispanic family in the '50s U.S.A. Rosanna de Soto as Ritchie's mother and Esai Morales as his older brother, Bob, offer convincing interpretations of family love, envies and bitterness. The real Connie and Bob Valenzuela were consultors on the film.
But Lou Diamond Phillips gives a pleasing, energetic performance, miming Ritchie Valens songs to their reproduction by the group Los Lobos. This is basically a rags-to-riches and fame story, but is more insightful than most.
1. An enjoyable film? Popular success?
2. Audience and their response to rock and roll, to Ritchie Valens and his songs, to Buddy Holly and the singers of the mid and late 1950s? Audience knowledge about Valens and his death?
3. California 1957: Spanish Americans, working in the country, the barrios, their work? Homes, school, the gigs, their recording studios, the tours, American Bandstand, Alan Freed's programme? The re-creation of this world of the '50s?
4. Rock and roll music and its impact in the 1950s, shaping the times? As shown in the film? performance of songs? Ritchie Valens and his music, the songs, performance: 'La Bamba', 'Donna', 'Come On, Let's Go', 'That's My Little'? The selection of songs from other singers of the time, especially on Bandstand and Alan Freed's show?
5. An enjoyable biopic: strengths, limitations? The motif of the plane, the crash and the dreams?
6. Barrio life: the trailer, poverty, work, school? Connie and her toughness, bringing up her sons, taking in Rosie? Bob and his background? Rosie and her relationship with Ritchie, with Bob, the baby? Moods and atmospheres? The contrast with the American high school and Donna's world?
7. Ritchie as a character; his age, nice lad, his strong mother, Bob, their friendship and growing up together, his platonic love for Rosie? his reaction to her going with Bob, the hard life, survival? Donna and his falling in love, outings, her rejection? His skill in playing and singing? The audition? The success with the rednecks in the bar? The group and the American Legion dance? The clashes with Rudy? His solo spot, the group? Bob spoiling the dance at the American Legion?
8. Success? The meeting with Bob Keene, the recording of: Let's Go and the many takes? Changing his name, the reasons? The composing of Donna, singing it to her through the phone? Rosie's baby, Bob's wandering? His being taken to the whorehouse? The playing of 'La Bamba' and its effect, making it his own?
9. Apprehension about planes, going to Philadelphia for American Bandstand? success? To New York and the success with Alan Freed's show? The, artists? The clash with Bob on Christmas Night? The group, flying in the snow? The build-up to his death? Sadness, his funeral?
10. The portrait of Bob and his providing dramatic interest for the film? Esai Morales' presence? Jail, taking Rosie from Ritchie, the later life, drugs and deals? His interrupting the dance The final clash with Ritchie? Yet the lyrical scenes of the brothers sharing joy and memories together?
11. Donna and her vigour, home and control, arranging the solo spot, organising the show, her grief at the news of Ritchie's death? American girl, nice, the song composed for her?
12. The TV world of the various groups and individuals who celebrated rock in the mid-'50s?
