Ry Cooder,
Compay Segundo,
Ruben Gonzalez,
Ibrahim Ferrer,
Eliades Ochoa
... see 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... read more
DVD Release Date: December 14, 1999
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Stats: 495 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (495)
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February 18, 2012Though 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 ... read more
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May 21, 2011The 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.
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December 3, 2009A 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 t... read more
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October 1, 2009It?s not the greatest film ever made but the music is well worth watching it for. Had expected more from a Wenders documentary though.
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May 7, 2008a 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 proj... read more
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August 23, 2007I 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. -
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May 18, 2009The Cuban band/subject matter are fascinating. The camera work is too visible and distracting, however (e.g. a dizzying sequence when the camera circles around two singers not one but several times).
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July 23, 2008cubans movie based in the life of cubans music people,and his life in cuba,good very good.os recomiendo.
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December 2, 2007It's affecting. And I like the focus on the music - though that raises a lot of questions about the lives of the musicians that we never really see. It's excellent - easy to dismiss as kind of a "supergroup" kind of thing or a white man's view of Latinness - I don't think the f... read more
Critic Reviews
August 3, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
January 1, 2011
Afsheen Nomai, Common Sense Media
Cuban musicians tell their life stories. Full Review
February 7, 2010
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
... celebrates the beauty of Cuba's art while showing how it effortlessly crosses cultures. Full Review
November 15, 2009
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
An affectionate cinematic celebration of that all-but-forgotten music. Full Review
April 12, 2007
Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
Reflects that flavorful, outspoken, provocative, distinctly Cuban Latino-centricity, a weapon against the prolonged U.S. blockade. Full Review
June 15, 2006
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. Full Review
May 26, 2006
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. Full Review
July 7, 2003
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Musically impressive but somewhat overpraised documentary
February 11, 2003
Shannon J. Harvey, Sunday Times (Australia)
A beautiful, touching, and perfectly tuned documentary into Cuban music.
October 31, 2002
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
The music is incredible enough on its own--but the lives and the culture behind it, that's what makes this documentary a must-see.
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Buena Vista Social Club
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