Selena Y Los Dinos premiered as a part of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in the US Documentary Competition in January. This film is directed by Isabel Castro (Mija, 2022) and she takes a standard chronological approach in telling Selena’s story through private footage her family provided, as well as public footage. For many of us in Texas and beyond who know of her life and music legacy, it will always be good to celebrate and remember her. The addition of the family photos and videos, as well as hearing from the family, her husband Chris Perez and many others in the music industry with her are so very special. They are woven into the Selena story that so many of us in the Mexican American (born in Texas/USA) community can relate to growing up, including how resourceful the families are when times are challenging.
Filmmaker Gregory Nava directed the 1997 biopic Selena, starring Jennifer Lopez, and is what so many people viewed and first learned/learned more about her if they were not familiar with the musical star until hearing of her death in 1995 when Selena was 23.
In Castro’s documentary, Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla, narrates. He started the family band when she was 6 after she started singing at home next to him while he was playing guitar. Her talent became evident to him, so he had his son AB play guitar and Suzette plays drums in the band. Later, AB also composed songs for her/the band and was her producer.
From the Houston area, they move to Corpus Christi, TX to be close to family and reside there while they settled back on their own. The band played there too. Selena gained confidence during her teen years, as well as worked on her Spanish language skills for her performances and interviews. It is noted during the film that English was her first/dominant language. She gained her fluency in Spanish as her performances led her further into South Texas and Mexico.
In 1994, she won a Grammy for the “Selena Live!” album, in the Best Mexican American Album category. There is also footage of her successful and well-known Houston Astrodome performance.
Chris Perez was brought into the band by her brother AB as a band guitarist. Over time, Selena fell in love with him, avoiding telling her father who she anticipated would object as she was 20 years old. Chris was concerned about taking the next steps, as he wanted more for her (big celebration and all), but they eloped. Limited details are provided and as well, about her untimely death. Footage of the press conference of that day was used when her father stated her death was at the hand of “a disgruntled employee.” It is hard to watch 30 years later.
This is a great film and the packed theater at the Paramount Theater during SXSW had the audience either laughing at Selena’s humor and personality or crying later at other points in the film. The film is not just for fans – this is a documentary for anyone who wants to know more about who she was and why she remains so alive to so many of us.
I certainly hope to hear soon what the news is on the distribution of the film for the public to see it.
Crew: Director: Isabel Castro. Camera: Lorean Durán. Editing: Carolina Siraqyan. Music: Camilo Lara.
Runtime: 110 minutes
Source: Sundance Film Festival, SXSW
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