La Bamba

Experience the incredible real-life story of LA BAMBA writer/director LUIS VALDEZ in the new documentary AMERICAN PACHUCO: THE LEGEND OF LUIS VALDEZ, opening at The Loft Cinema on Friday, September 4!

Lou Diamond Phillips electrifies in a star-making performance as influential Mexican American rocker Ritchie Valens (né Richard Valenzuela), whose meteoric rise to rock and roll fame tragically ended “the day music died” at the age of 17. La Bamba vividly chronicles Valens’ journey from farm work to San Fernando High School, where he meets his sweetheart Donna and joins a cover band, to signing with a label and recording his own songs, to tour dates in front of screaming fans… as well as the fateful “Winter Dance Party” tour, with the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly. With indelible performances by Esai Morales as Valens’ troubled half-brother and Rosanna DeSoto as their steely and supportive single mom. Featuring energetic renditions of Valens’ songs “Come On, Let’s Go,” “Donna” the top-40 title hit (Los Lobos’ version, recorded for this film, reached #1 in 1987), and cameos by Brian Setzer (as Eddie Cochran), Howard Huntsberry (Jackie Wilson), and Marshall Crenshaw (Buddy Holly). A commercial breakthrough for Luis Valdez, considered the father of Chicano theater and film, this remains the highest-grossing Latino film in Hollywood history. (Dir. by Luis Valdez, 1987, USA, 108 mins., Rated PG-13)