Why does Ritchie Valens’ story still hit like a perfectly strummed guitar chord? La Bamba (1987), directed by Luis Valdez, isn’t just a biopic about a rock ‘n’ roll pioneer it’s a raw, soulful snapshot of a Mexican-American teenager chasing dreams against a backdrop of cultural tension. The film vibrates with energy, capturing Valens’ meteoric rise and tragic fall, and it’s as much a love letter to Chicano identity as it is to the birth of rock.

Let’s start with Lou Diamond Phillips’ electrifying performance as Ritchie. He doesn’t just play Valens; he is Valens channeling the wide-eyed ambition of a 17-year-old who turned “La Bamba” into a global anthem. Phillips nails the quiet moments, too like the tender scenes with his mother (Rosana DeSoto), where you feel the weight of family expectations. His chemistry with Esai Morales, who plays Ritchie’s troubled brother Bob, crackles with sibling rivalry and unspoken love, grounding the film in messy, human truth. But the performance isn’t flawless; Phillips occasionally leans too hard into the “starstruck kid” vibe, making some scenes feel more caricature than character.

The soundtrack is the film’s heartbeat. Los Lobos’ renditions of Valens’ hits like the infectious “La Bamba” and the aching “Donna” don’t just fill the background; they propel the story, blending rock with Mexican folk in a way that feels revolutionary even today. In 2025, when Latinx representation in film is still a battleground, the movie’s unapologetic Chicano pride resonates deeply. It’s not preachy, but it doesn’t shy away from the racism Valens faced, like when promoters demand he Anglicize his name. These moments sting, reminding us how far we’ve come and haven’t.

Valdez’s direction keeps things intimate yet vivid, though it stumbles in pacing. The second half drags as it tries to cram in every biopic cliché romance, fame, tragedy without fully exploring Ritchie’s inner world. Still, the cinematography pops with warm, sunlit hues that evoke 1950s California, making every frame feel like a memory you want to hold onto.

La Bamba matters now because it’s a story of defying odds in a world that tells you to stay small. It’s not perfect, but its flaws are part of its charm like a slightly off-key note in a song you can’t stop humming. Watch it, and let Ritchie’s voice linger in your soul.