Buena Vista Social Club
Directed by Wim Wenders
Written by Wim Wenders and Nick Gold
1999
Germany/USA/UK/France/Cuba
First viewing/FilmStruck
[box] In the beginning I just wanted to make movies, but with the passage of time the journey itself was no longer the goal, but what you find at the end. Now, I make films to discover something I didn’t know, very much like a detective. – Wim Wenders[/box]
Loved this joyous documentary of good music rediscovered.
American musician Ry Cooder traveled to Cuba to hire musicians for a planned CD. In his search, he discovered that many musicians who were famous pre-Castro were alive, well, and longing to get back to work. Some were as old as age 90. The CD was a cross-over success and Grammy Winner.
Wim Wenders then made this documentary which explores life in present day Havana, war stories of times gone by, and concerts given by the group in Amsterdam and at Carnegie Hall.
I immediately fell in love with these musicians and the music they made. The wonderful moments and images captured by Wenders are only the icing on the cake. Recommended.
Buena Vista Social Club was nominated for an Oscar as Best Documentary, Feature.
