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Amazon.co.uk Review
In 1996, composer, producer, and guitar legend Ry Cooder entered Egrem Studios in Havana with the forgotten greats of Cuban music, many of them in their 60s and 70s, some of them long since retired. The resulting album, Buena Vista Social Club, became a Grammy-winning international bestseller. When Cooder returned to Havana in 1998 to record a solo album by 72-year-old vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer, filmmaker Wim Wenders was on hand to document the occasion. Wenders splits the film between portraits of the performers, who tell their stories directly to the camera as they wander the streets and neighbourhoods of Havana, and a celebration of the music heard in performance scenes in the studio, in their first concert in Amsterdam, and in their second and final concert at Carnegie Hall. The songs are too often cut short in this fashion, but Buena Vista Social Club is not a concert film. Wenders weaves the artist biographies with a glimpse of modern Cuba remembering its past, capturing a lost culture in music that is suddenly, unexpectedly revived for audiences in Havana and around the world. Wenders makes his presence practically invisible, as if his directorial flourishes or off-screen narration might deflect attention from the artists, who do a fine job of telling their own stories through interviews and music. It's a loving portrait of a master class in Cuban music, with a vital cast of ageing performers whose energy and passion belie their years. --Sean Axmaker
Product Description
Cuba's rich and colourful past comes vividly to life in this legendary, Oscar-nominated documentary from director Wim Wenders (PARIS, TEXAS, WINGS OF DESIRE).
The Grammy Award-winning Buena Vista Social Club album produced by Ry Cooder, remains the biggest-selling world music album ever. It showcases the talents of a dream team of veterans from Cuban music's golden age and it introduced the rhythms of Son, Bolero and Danzon to a whole new audience, making instant international stars of Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez, Eliades Ochoa, Omara Portuondo and Compay Segundo.
Never a regular band, The Buena Vista Social Club had gone their separate ways after that sensational album but in this extraordinary film Wenders intimately documents Ry Cooder's return to Havana, encountering these musical legends again as they look back to the halcyon days of Cuba's music scene, when the rich and famous travelled from all over the world to listen to them. In the climax their music comes alive once again, as they rehearse for their first and only performance in America, at New York's Carnegie Hall. More than a musical occasion that historic sell-out show is the uplifting finale to this documentary, which remains one of the greatest musical films ever made.
DVD bonus features include a feature-length commentary with Wim Wenders, interview with Juan de Marcos Gonzales, deleted scenes and reversible "Wenders Classics" DVD sleeve for collectors.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I got the video as a christmas present and every time I watch it I end up grinning so much. I agree that some of Ry Cooders more patronising moments are cringeworthy. But the real problem with the film is how inadequate it makes me feel. These beautiful people spend their lives in a beautiful land making beautiful music and making people happy. I don't, but I want to. I've never seen such healthy, joyous old folk before. I'm truly astonished that what is, ostensibly, a music documentary should have such an inspiring effect on me. If you like the music then buy the video, because it really brings it alive.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I got the CD for Christmas and to be honest, only really like two or three tracks. But the film knocked my socks off.
It's effectively a series of film portraits of great Cuban musicians, a record of their music and a recording of two concerts where they all came together in Amsterdam and in Carnegie Hall. But the sum of its parts is far more than that.
The filming is clever - it moves easily from recording session to interview to monologue to just great music. There's no obvious trickery though I'm sure some slick editing went into making it so watchable. The way the sounds blend between sections is inspired.
Somehow, music that I found annoyingly sentimental and a bit raucous when I listened to it, became wonderfully sentimental and energetic when I was watching it. It's a bit like the difference between seeing a great musician live and listening to a recording. The musicians are clearly enjoying themselves and really feeling the music they're making. I love watching talented improvisers feeding off each other like that. And having fun!
I'm going to listen to the music again, properly, and see if I like it any better now... some of the singing is not really my thing but Gonzalez was so fantastic, and Barbarito Torres, and the percussionist whose name I can't remember...
Partly, there was a feeling that the project (not the film so much as Cooder's recordings with Juan de Marcos Gonzalez) was an attempt to capture this stuff before everyone who knows it dies. But what really shone through was a sense of life, vivacity, and love of music.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Buena Vista Social club is a fascinating look at Afro-Cuban music and concerns itself with US artist Ry Cooder and his dream being fulfilled wherein he records and plays live with some old grand masters of the Cuban sound.
The Cubans are amazing guys with great personalities and incredible life stories. Singer Ibrahim Ferrer and the great pianist, Ruben Gonzalez, are particularly captivating personalities.
The great thing that comes across is the sheer enjoyment of these musicians and the total love that they have for their music.
Superbly filmed by Wim Wenders, the DVD has an excellent director’s commentary that really adds to the movie.
The music is fantastic and certainly made me hunger for more.
A joy from start to finish.
The Cubans are amazing guys with great personalities and incredible life stories. Singer Ibrahim Ferrer and the great pianist, Ruben Gonzalez, are particularly captivating personalities.
The great thing that comes across is the sheer enjoyment of these musicians and the total love that they have for their music.
Superbly filmed by Wim Wenders, the DVD has an excellent director’s commentary that really adds to the movie.
The music is fantastic and certainly made me hunger for more.
A joy from start to finish.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant,Brilliant
This is one of the most touching films I've seen for ages. Ry Cooder (Brilliant, look him up) goes in search of this old long forgotten group all very aged. Read more
Published 19 days ago by DaveC
Must Have for a DVD collection
Loved it from start to finish, can really say no more. Just buy it and watch it to appreciate it.
Published 1 month ago by FergalMcCabe
enchanting movie
one of my all time favourite, the atmosphere, the music, the colors, the tenderness...
a great great movie I would view again and again every now and then
a great great movie I would view again and again every now and then
Published 1 month ago by Simone Roncali
wrong language
Wrong language - didn't notice that there was a choice of language.
Love Bueno Vista Social Club so music good in any language but would much prefer english.
Love Bueno Vista Social Club so music good in any language but would much prefer english.
Published 4 months ago by valcoo
Love all things from Cuba
I expected more of a story line. Buena Vista Social Club was factual and interesting. The shots of Cuba, particularly Havana, were evocative of our visit.
Published 9 months ago by Mrs. Ei Griffiths
Viva Cuba
Everything about Cuba has fascinated me since the sixties. I was lucky enough to visit Cuba four years ago and loved every minute of the three weeks travelling from one end to the... Read more
Published 10 months ago by AMcSmith
Not quite studio quality ...
... but if you want to feel the atmosphere and hear some of their most popular songs, this is the one to buy.
Saw them in Plymouth (UK) earlier this year (2011). Read more
Saw them in Plymouth (UK) earlier this year (2011). Read more
Published 11 months ago by MathGuy
happy story
This is a heart-warming story recalling the heyday of pre-revolution Cuba
and its wonderfully stirring musical scene. Read more
and its wonderfully stirring musical scene. Read more
Published 13 months ago by megafon
Great Buena Vista Social Club dvd
The movie is a favourite one of my husband. We have been looking for the DVD for months yet if not for years... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Iwonna Swiderska
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE MUSIC DON'BE BE AFRAID BECAUSE YOU WILL LOVE...
Wim is one of the few director who could make movies or Doc, as in this case, helpig the us to see what is under the eyes but we could not see.
Thanks Wim! Read more
Thanks Wim! Read more
Published 19 months ago by Ripley's Film Srl Draicchio
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