In the three decades since Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s death, her story has been told in a variety of formats, from a podcast to a limited TV series and children’s book . Yet few have remained as culturally significant as the 1997 biopic, “Selena.” Yielding quotable phrases like “Anything for Selenas,” or relatable scenes depicting her family’s fraught relationship with their hybrid Mexican American identity, “Selena” continues to stand the test of time — and remains one of the few cinematic depictions of the pop star approved by her family.
Not long after Selena’s murder, her relatives tapped the Oscar-nominated filmmaker Gregory Nava , who previously told immigrant stories in 1983’s “ El Norte ,” as well as his 1995 movie, “Mi Familia.” The latter followed a Mexican American family in Los Angeles with a full Latino cast, including Edward James Olmos, Constance Marie, Jacob Vargas and one blooming Jennifer Lopez. “Selena’s family felt very strongly that only a Latino filmmaker would be able to understand the culture, her ethos and the world she came from,” says Nava.
With financial backing and distribution from Warner Bros., Nava penned and directed the film in Texas. He interviewed family members and close friends of the singer, who by the age of 23, had captivated audiences across the diaspora with her vocals and captivating stage presence.
“She was such a brilliant light,” says Nava. “It was really tragic when she left us, but .
