La Bamba (DVD)

Like a flash of brilliance...

La Bamba
Cast: Lou Diamond Philips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Pena and Danielle von Zerneck
Original music: Miles Goodman, Carlos Santana
Cinematography: Adam Greenberg
Editing: Don Brochu, Sheldon Kahn
Written and directed by Luis Valdez
Prime Pictures

Ritchie Valens embodied the American dream. The singing sensation gave to the world three rock n' roll classics — Donna, Come on, let's go and La Bamba — in just eight months. He was only 17 years old then, and he didn't live to be wished another birthday. Like a flash of brilliance, he came and went to leave behind his musical legacy that hasn't aged since 1959.
Ritchie's life makes an evocative film experience in La Bamba. You might have heard Ritchie's songs, you might have known about his short life, or you might be simply ignorant of it all. With whatever limited knowledge on Ritchie you approach La Bamba, the film doesn't disappoint because its bottomline is tremendously inspiring: It is the story of the triumph of the underdog. Death, however, hard and soon it was couldn't snatch away the glory of Ritchie's success.
Starting with his early struggle as a farmworker, La Bamba is also a representation of marginalised communities who get carried away by the American dream, are gung-ho about their new-found liberty and identity, and work towards accomplishing their goals and eventually become national heroes. Ritchie does exactly that.
It is also about familial ties, about mother-son bonding, about brothers rediscovering their love for each other. La Bamba is also about innocent love, the feel-good romance that prompts a boy to write a classic love song like Donna.
The twists and turns of Ritchie's life have been captured for the film with an astounding sense of dignity. After all, he was a young boy who simply wanted to be star. Together with other star-aspirants, he eventually gets to where stars are: Up in the sky.
There are poignant moments in the film's narration of Ritchie's life: His first band and the petty rivalries; his first performance and recording; his first romance; the disturbing animosity of his brother Sam towards his live-in girlfriend, Rosa; and above all, the recurring dream of the on-air flight collision.
Ritchie recalls with terror how his childhood friend was killed in a plane disaster and how he himself was saved because he was attending his grandfather's funeral. The fear for death runs through his life. He beats his fear for flying, eventually, but death comes to him exactly the way he visioned: Mid-air.
Lou Diamond Philips gives a star-performance as Ritchie. The vulnerability of the teenager, his fear and aspirations, and his eventual triumph are all brought out with astounding sincerity by Philips. Playing the perfect foil, as his co-brother Sam, is Esai Morales. They are brilliantly supported by Rosanna DeSoto (as Connie, Ritchie's mother), Elizabeth Pena (Rosa) and Danielle von Zerneck (Donna).
La Bamba touches your heart. A must see for all rock n' roll fans.