American Masters “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” aired Tuesday, October 6 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps. It Repeats Saturday, October 10 at 3pm on WXXI-TV and livestream, The Program is available on-demand through 11/4/26. Watch the local video of the WXXI panel below for thoughts on the film.
A founding figure of the Chicano Movement, filmmaker and playwright Luis Valdez is best known for his play Zoot Suit, the Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba and the theatre company El Teatro Campesino.
The son of migrant farmworkers who became a revolutionary artist, Luis Valdez changed American culture. In the 1960s, his El Teatro Campesino performed on flatbed trucks and helped mobilize farmworkers to win their first union contract. In 1979, his “Zoot Suit” was the first Chicano play ever performed on Broadway. His feature film, “La Bamba” was a breakout blockbuster in 1987 that authentically depicted Mexican American life and shared it with the world. Founded in 1965, Valdez’s El Teatro continues to be a beacon for Latino/a creators. American Pachuco is the story of a pioneering artist who gave voice to the overlooked and opened pathways for generations.
Watch the trailer:
A Discussion of the film with WXXI Panel:
WXXI hosted a screening of American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez,a film that follows the legacy of the filmmaker and playwright. After the screening. Julio Sáenz, WXXI Chief Content Officer, moderated a panel discussion with Annette Ramos, Latinx Community Leader, Social Justice Advocate, Arts Curator & Executive Director Rochester Latino Theatre Company; Ricardo Figueroa, Director, School of Film and Animation at Rochester Institute of Technology & John Traver Endowed Professor; and Jason Barber, Co-Founder and Curator of ¡Presente! Film Series, Educator /Community Engagement Expert/Artist. This is their conversation.