- Paperback: 132 pages
- Publisher: Thames & Hudson (13 Mar 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 050028220X
- ISBN-13: 978-0500282205
- Product Dimensions: 26.8 x 24.8 x 1.2 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 795,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
As some will know Wim Wenders' Buena Vista Social Club is one of the sleeper movie phenomenons of the 1990s. A record of one astounding revival, it has in turn perpetuated that revival, providing a whole new lease of life--and a lucrative international platform--for a music that was lost to many people. Wenders gives credit where it's due--to world music guru Ry Cooder who travelled to Cuba in 1996 to seek out the soneros, performers hugely popular in the 1930s, 40s and 50s; made an album with them, the Buena Vista Social Club (Buena Vista being an area of Havana); and launched them on stage in Amsterdam and New York. But he also asked Wenders if he wanted to come along for the ride, and in March and April 1998, Wenders, on the spur of the moment with only a minimal crew ("concepts are for sissies"), travelled to Cuba and Amsterdam, and followed the newly popular stars: among them Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo and Ruben Gonzalez. The result was a remarkable international film sensation.
They call this "the book of the film", and that's what it is. Of the 141 photographs, Wim Wenders provides the colour images and Donata Wenders some atmospheric black-and-white shots. The background to the whole enterprise is fleshed out with illuminating comments from Wenders and the performers (oddly laid out on the page as verse) an interview with Ry Cooder, song lyrics in Spanish and English, and mini-biographies of all involved. Fans of the film will no doubt want this to add to their Buena Vista collection--but first-time patrons of the Social Club would be well advised to invest in the one element of the film this beautiful-looking book can't provide: the CDs that contain the insistent music that is, after all, its raison d'etre--music that is, as soneros addict Wenders writes, "infectious and lively as it is wise and soothing".--Alan Stewart
Product Description
A photographic record of Wim Wender's acclaimed film capturing musician Ry Cooder's odessy to the streets of Havana. It documents his search for the veteran musicians of Cuba's bygone age, and the amazing talent he discovered. The photographs are accompanied by narrative text and song lyrics.
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Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AGELESS BEAUTY AND MUSICIANS MAKE TIMELESS MAGIC, 31 Mar 2000
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Buena Vista Social Club (Paperback)
If you've seen the movie, this book will not only allow you to relive the experience but will provide more insight into the lives of each musician and their journey into our hearts, but will also provide insight into the 'forbidden' country whose beauty draws us and politics confuse us. Leave your politics at the door and delve into this headfirst. It's a magical mystery trip to the heart.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice photographic support to the book, but..., 16 Aug 2002
By Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Buena Vista Social Club (Paperback)
I am a fan of Wim Wenders' work, and I loved the BVSC CD and the movie, but in all honesty, except for the intro by Wenders and the closing interview with Ry Cooder, the entire book basically consists of shots from the movie along with the dialogs by the BVSC stars and the lyrics to the songs they interpret, i.e. material that the movie and the CD already provide. Yes: I admit I had higher expectations with it. In any case, I have to say Ibrahim Ferrer's monologue toward the end, when they visit NYC for their performance at Carnegie Hall, is a very touching moment.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A photo album that depicts the key moments in the movie, 19 Mar 2002
By Luis F Lupian - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Buena Vista Social Club (Paperback)
I recently saw the movie Buena Vista Social Club for the first time and I liked it so much that I wanted to learn more about it. That's why I ordered this book.At first, I was a little disappointed when I received the book and found out that some of the images were low-resolution digital scans. However, after reviewing the book as a whole, I really got to like it. There are quite a few large high-resolution images that more than compensate for their low-res counterparts.
The book is mainly a photo-album which includes the transcriptions of some of the dialogs and interviews from the movie, as well as the lyrics of some of the songs (all of them translated into English).
One of the only pieces of material in this book that are not an integral part of the movie is the foreword by Wim Wenders, where he describes his whole experience of going to Cuba to make the movie. Very, very interesting to read! The other two are an interview of Ry Cooder with Peter Kemper and the biographies of the musicians.
This book is good to have around when you are having a conversation about the movie with your friends. You'll find the photos and dialogs from all the key moments in the movie.
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