La Bamba

Parents need to know that La Bamba is a 1987 biopic on legendary 1950s rock and roller Ritchie Valens. In addition to telling the story of Valens' rise and untimely death, the movie also shows Ritchie's brother Bob's struggles with alcohol. When drunk, Bob is violent to his girlfriend and family, verbally and physically abusive. When the movie begins, Bob has just gotten out of prison, and is later shown selling marijuana to a friend; the marijuana was taped to his chest, presumably smuggled. While confiding in his brother about his girlfriend, Bob tells Ritchie, "I almost have to rape her just to have sex." In the aftermath of Ritchie's heartbreak due to being unable to see his girlfriend Donna because her father is prejudiced against Mexican Americans, Bob tells Ritchie, "We gotta get you some tail," and the two go to Tijuana, where Bob takes Ritchie to a whorehouse. Ritchie wakes up the next day extremely hung over with a new tattoo in the hut of an elderly man. There's some cigarette smoking, as well as some profanity, including "f--k." Brief nudity is seen (female breasts) when young boys are caught spying on women taking a shower in a work camp on a farm. In addition, Ritchie's untimely death and his family's grief might be a bit much to take for more sensitive viewers, especially families who have recently lost loved ones.