Buena Vista Social Club (1998)

91% of critics liked it
(44 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(8,525 ratings)

Wim Wenders' documentary Buena Vista Social Club is about the adventures of Ry Cooder in Cuba. Cooder, best remembered by film fans for the wailing slide guitar theme of Wenders' Paris, Texas, went to Cuba in 1996 to meet with some legendary 'soneros' musicians of the '30s, '40s and '50s. The result… More Wim Wenders' documentary Buena Vista Social Club is about the adventures of Ry Cooder in Cuba. Cooder, best remembered by film fans for the wailing slide guitar theme of Wenders' Paris, Texas, went to Cuba in 1996 to meet with some legendary 'soneros' musicians of the '30s, '40s and '50s. The result was the album Buena Vista Social Club, recorded with such colorful characters as the 90-year-old singer/guitarist Compay Segundo, guitarist Eliades Ochoa, baritone Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo, "the Cuban Edith Piaf." The album won a Grammy, and in this refreshing documentary, Wim Wenders shows these exceptional musicians in their hometown, following them into their usual hang-outs -- the cafes, clubs and even living rooms -- as well as to concerts in Amsterdam and New York's Carnegie Hall, capturing their incredible vitality. "In Cuba, music flows like a river," according to Ry Cooder, who adds "Music is like a treasure hunt; you dig and dig and sometimes find something." Pursuing this metaphor, Wenders wanted to make a film that would "just float on this river ... not interfering with it, just drifting along." The result is a film full of vitality and positive energy, which is also an absolute delight to musical ears. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Wim Wenders
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Documentary

In Theaters: Jun 4, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Dec 14, 1999
Studio: Artisan Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of the best and most impactful docus of the 1990s, Wim Wenders exhilarating feature is at once a trbute to a pre-Castro generation of musicians as well as a largely bygone genre.
Afsheen Nomai, Common Sense Media
Cuban musicians tell their life stories.
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
... celebrates the beauty of Cuba's art while showing how it effortlessly crosses cultures.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
An affectionate cinematic celebration of that all-but-forgotten music.
Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
Reflects that flavorful, outspoken, provocative, distinctly Cuban Latino-centricity, a weapon against the prolonged U.S. blockade.
Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
Reflects that flavorful, outspoken, provocative, distinctly Cuban Latino-centricity, a weapon against the prolonged U.S. blockade.
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly
Cooder is obviously enthralled by the music and the musicians, but it's hardly communicated in a clubby film record that's likely to win few fans outside aficionados.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Wenders... is not interested in too many hows, whys, whens, or wheres. He simply wants to spotlight this band and its stories, and he succeeds.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Musically impressive but somewhat overpraised documentary
Shannon J. Harvey, Sunday Times (Australia)
A beautiful, touching, and perfectly tuned documentary into Cuban music.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Daniel P

Though I'm not sure Wim Wenders was needed to direct it - I think it was done on handhelds - the subject matter alone is enough to make this documentary interesting. On his producer's whim, Ry Cooder heads for Havana to play some Cuban folk music with some local and some… More
Though I'm not sure Wim Wenders was needed to direct it - I think it was done on handhelds - the subject matter alone is enough to make this documentary interesting. On his producer's whim, Ry Cooder heads for Havana to play some Cuban folk music with some local and some African players... except, the Africans never show up. Almost by accident, he links up with one legend after another, many of whom have long ago quit playing music, and he records the sessions, taking the band all the way to Carnegie Hall. Interesting window into a musician's life, Cuban life, and a Cuban musician's life. It's a great and valuable historical document... and, oh yeah, the music's pretty good, too.
Lucas M

The interesting in this documentary, is not just the great cuban music, but the story of each one that is part of Buena Vista, and see how the songs get better with they experience of living. Terrific photography.
Ross C

A documentary of the reformation of Cuba's musical legends into the touring Buena Vista Social Club band. Like many American documentaries it can be a bit too sycophantic at times, but it's a lovely insight into the Cuban people behind the music as well as a nice music video… More
A documentary of the reformation of Cuba's musical legends into the touring Buena Vista Social Club band. Like many American documentaries it can be a bit too sycophantic at times, but it's a lovely insight into the Cuban people behind the music as well as a nice music video of their tour.
Anthony L

It?s not the greatest film ever made but the music is well worth watching it for. Had expected more from a Wenders documentary though.
Stella D

a lovely film which documents some giants of latin jazz who might have remained relatively unknown outside their home country of cuba. many of them have passed on now but will live on thanks to wim wenders and ry cooder, who was fined by u.s. government for his work on this project!
Drew S

I saw this a few years ago in Spanish class. The movie itself has not really stuck with me, but my friend burned me the soundtrack and I still listen to it to this day. Thus, this movie's mission, in at least one way, was accomplished.
Linda K

Great music!