‘Selena y Los Dinos’ Doc Shines in Texas Premiere, Tells Inside Story of Pop Culture Icon

For Texans, Selena will always be La Reina. In the Lone Star State’s premiere of the documentary “Selena y Los Dinos” at SXSW on Wednesday, Selena fans packed the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin, donning the pop culture icon’s image on T-shirts, earrings, vests y más, demonstrating that her legacy still lives in the hearts of her fans even as we near the 30th anniversary of her death. 

During a foreshadowing interview at the height of her fame, Selena said it’s really up to the public to determine how long she’ll be remembered. At the Texas film premiere, which drew fans who drove from across the state and beyond, it’s clear that the Grammy-winning Queen of Tejano music has a staying power that’ll continue across generations. 

The film, directed by Isabel Castro and executive produced by Suzette Quintanilla and AB Quintanilla III, comes as the former fan club president who shot her in Corpus Christi, Texas, awaits a parole review later this month.

“Selena y Los Dinos” takes viewers on an emotional journey and is an intimate look into Selena’s rise to stardom told in her own words and from the perspective of her family and bandmates.

“It was the best time of my life,” said musician Chris Perez in a Q&A after the screening. 

He famously eloped with the star after a secret romance. In the film, fans get a heartfelt look into their relationship. Perez reveals that he first “felt butterflies” during a band trip to Mexico and that they shared their first kiss in Laredo. 

In the documentary, Chris reads excerpts from a love letter Selena wrote to him after their relationship was discovered and he had to leave the band. In it, she brings up the possibility of marriage and how much she misses him. 

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Through family photographs, archival Selena interviews and never-before-seen home videos, mostly recorded by Suzette Quintanilla, fans get a glimpse of the young girl whose story has resonated with generations of Latinos, many of whom saw themselves represented for the first time through Selena’s music and performances. 

“Didn’t you just love seeing her grow?” Suzette asked the SXSW audience. She shared how beautiful it was to see the film showcase that transformation. “Not just her, but us and our hairstyles, you know? I loved seeing it because like, wow, you can see the transition of her not just physically but as an artist, how she was growing. She was being more secure of who she was as an artist.”

Selena fans at the screening cheered, laughed, and shed tears in community. Viewers see Selena not just in the limelight but also during silly times with Suzette making videos, or when she was in a bad mood after an exhausting day. We even get a glimpse of her Spanish lesson notes.

Part of that transition seen on screen includes Selena stepping more and more into her heritage and speaking Spanish, which the film weaves together with code switching perfection, and like Selena – without apology. 

The documentary introduces viewers to the special people and things in Selena’s life – yes, even the non-air conditioned tour bus Big Bertha, which got a roaring applause from the audience. 

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“Selena inspires me to think bigger and reach higher,” Castro, the director, said after the screening. 

The magic behind what became a supergroup happened as a team and family unit. The film gives insights into those magical touches that made the dream possible, from the songwriting and producing by Selena’s brother, AB, to how the talent and musical prowess of Pete Astudillo and keyboardist Ricky Vela all helped elevate the band. 

AB credits Astudillo with introducing the band to cumbia sounds, which they then reimagined adding elements of contemporary music. 

“God bless you (Suzette) for being a pain in the ass with the footage,” Astudillo said. While it was annoying at the time to film while on tour, it’s now made it possible to share her story in this new way. 

When Selena died, “there was a big void,” Suzette said. “Not just personally, but I missed my old life. I missed them,” she said, pointing at Perez, Astudillo and Vela. “They are an extended family and they forever will be. That’s why they are right here next to me still to this day.”

In the film, the family recounted where they were when she died. In a collective moment of grief, the audience could be heard sniffling as couples shared tissue paper to wipe the tears. But somehow it felt okay. In that theater, a safe space emerged among people who got it. 

“Selena was our muse,” Astudillo said. And as for fans, we’ll always be dreaming of Selena. 

Additional screenings:

Catch “Selena y Los Dinos” at SXSW on March 15 at AFS Cinema. Stay tuned for updates about when the film is expected to be released widely. 

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