Selena y Los Dinos New Documentary Helped Me Appreciate The Icon Even More
Selena
During my time at SXSW, I was beyond excited to learn that there was a documentary about Selena y Los Dinos. I've been a fan of Selena since I was younger, and I deeply regret not knowing about the premiere beforehand, I would’ve brought my Amor Prohibido vinyl in case her family was open to signing it. I saw the documentary, and it was an emotional and beautifully crafted tribute to Selena’s legacy.
I absolutely loved how it portrayed Selena and her family in such a raw and honest way. It felt like I was getting to experience their journey firsthand, from seeing her perform at family parties to one of her last performances at the Astrodome. Seeing young Selena was especially touching. My earliest memories of her come from the 1997 Selena movie and watching her Astrodome performance on YouTube over and over. In my mind, she was this larger-than-life force, strong, confident, and perfectly choreographed. But the documentary gave me a new perspective. Selena was also just a young girl, full of jokes, deeply loved by her family, the baby of the bunch. It was eye-opening to see how often she was asked why she loved singing, and she’d casually respond, “for the money.” It had never occurred to me that, at the start, singing was simply a way for her family to make a living. She was also very young, so her response was sincere and literal. Even though she became an icon, her initial motivation was about survival, about providing for her loved ones. It makes so much sense now why their dedication as performers was so intense; this was their livelihood.
Beyond music, Selena also designed the group’s outfits and opened her own boutiques. The documentary mentioned that she pursued fashion partly because she knew she wouldn’t be a singer forever, but mostly because she wanted something that was truly hers. That surprised me. When I first learned about Selena, I assumed she carried the family, but it wasn’t like that at all. They all uplifted each other.
Selena y Los Dinos
The family’s strong bond was especially emotional toward the end. Suzette shared how, as Selena prepared to cross over into English-language music, she was filled with anxiety. She knew things were about to change, and she was scared to leave her family behind; it was all she had ever known. That sentiment is so familiar in Mexican families, the guilt and worry that come with moving forward, even when it’s for the best.
One of the things I appreciated most was how the documentary captured the reality of so many Mexican-American families. Not all of us grew up performing together, but there’s always that deep sense of dedication, to our families, to making something of ourselves. Often, we don’t have the resources or formal training, but we push forward anyway, with the support of those around us. I saw that in A.B., Selena’s brother. He became the songwriter behind so many of her biggest hits, but at first, he wasn’t sure he could do it. He shared how their father told him, If they can do it, what’s stopping you? That stuck with me. I’ve heard similar words from my own father. He didn’t always feel deeply connected to his Mexican heritage, but he sought out guidance from Pete Astudillo (and many more) and figured it out; he made it happen even if failure happened.
I also loved seeing how they made things work with what they had. It wasn’t about faking it until they made it; it was about taking what they had and transforming it into what they needed. Some of the things I noticed were:
Big Bertha – Their iconic bus wasn’t fancy (no air conditioning!), but it got them where they needed to go and kept them together.
Selena’s outfits – She designed them herself, creating looks that would later become legendary.
Their Corpus Christi studio – Built from their uncle’s old car shop, proving that with enough vision and effort, anything is possible.
Selena
One thing I really appreciated was how the documentary handled Selena’s love story. So many movies and series paint Abraham Quintanilla as the villain, trying to keep Selena and Chris apart. But this time, it felt different. He may not have been on board at first, but it was clear he was just trying to protect his daughter, something so many Mexican dads do. And hearing Suzette say she was happy that Selena at least got to experience marriage, even for a short time, really hit me.
Even though we all know how this story ends, the documentary still had everyone in tears. It felt special to see this more intimate side of Selena and her family. Their journey was so raw, so real, and so deeply relatable. It beautifully captured the struggles, sacrifices, and unwavering support that so many Mexican and Mexican-American families rely on to build a better future. I loved the ending. The family stated that they find joy and comfort in seeing how much fans love Selena today.
