Selena (1997)
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The film chronicles the rise and tragic end of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.
The story
The film follows the life of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez as she rises to fame. The narrative begins backstage at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, just before a major performance. It then moves back in time to the 1960s, showing the early struggles of her father, Abraham Quintanilla, and his band. The story follows the family's journey as they form the band 'Selena y Los Dinos' and navigate the challenges of the music industry, cultural barriers, and personal relationships as Selena becomes a prominent figure in the music scene.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film begins in 1995 at the Astrodome before flashing back to 1961, where Abraham Quintanilla struggles to find success for his band, 'The Dinos.' Two decades later, Abraham discovers his daughter Selena's talent and forms 'Selena y Los Dinos.' The band moves to Corpus Christi, where Selena begins to incorporate more personality into her act. In 1990, Chris Pérez joins as the guitarist, and the two eventually fall in love. Despite initial resistance from Abraham, the couple eventually elopes. By 1994, Selena's success leads to a crossover English-language album and the opening of her own boutique. She hires Yolanda Saldívar to manage the store. However, financial discrepancies and missing records are discovered. On March 31, 1995, Selena is fatally shot by Yolanda Saldívar. The film concludes with the Quintanilla-Pérez family mourning her death while fans hold a candlelight vigil.
- First release year
- 1997
- Runtime (minutes)
- 127
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Gregory Nava
- Writers
- Gregory Nava · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jennifer Lopez · Selena Quintanilla-Pérez; Edward James Olmos · Abraham Quintanilla Jr.; Jon Seda · Chris Pérez; Constance Marie · Marcella Samora-Quintanilla; Lupe Ontiveros · Yolanda Saldívar; Jackie Guerra · Suzette Quintanilla; Jacob Vargas · A.B. Quintanilla III
- Genres
- biographical; musical; drama
- Themes
- Rise to fame; Cultural identity; Family loyalty
- Tone and mood
- Biographical; Dramatic
- Setting
- Texas, USA, during the 1960s, 1980s, 1990s, and 1995.
- Premise and plot tags
- Musical; Biographical; True Story
- Source material / true-story basis
- Biography of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
- Reception
- The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 6 · scale: 10 · review count: 85
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globes · Best Actress · 55th · Nomination
- Production trivia
- Over 21,000 people auditioned for the title role.; The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2021.; The film was re-released in select cinemas in 2022 for its 25th anniversary.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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