BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB (1999)
A film by Wim Wenders
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 Danzón to a whole new audience, making instant
international stars of Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González, 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.
“breathtaking… moving, uplifting”
Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN
“wonderful”
Philip French, THE OBSERVER
“a blinder”
TIME OUT
“sunshine for the soul… opulent, organic and as intoxicating as a rum
binge, dripping with joie de vivre and rumbling with passion.”
TOTAL FILM
4 STARS
OFFICIAL SELECTION - IN COMPETITION – Berlin International Film Festival
Bonus Features:
Feature-length commentary with director Wim Wenders
Interview with Juan de Marcos Gonzáles
Deleted scenes
Reversible “Wenders Classics” style DVD sleeve for collectors
Certificate: Exempt
Running Time: 100 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 anamorphic
Audio: Dolby Stereo and optional 5.1
Country: Germany / USA / Cuba
Language: Spanish, English with optional English subtitles
Genre: Documentary
Region: 2
Cat. No: AXM582
Barcode: 5060126870333