Review: Buena Vista Social Club is one of those rare profile documentaries that takes a remarkable story and relates it to the lives of every day audiences without losing any of the grandeur and splendor of the tale. It’s part concert documentary, part biography that’s fused with brilliant use of transitions and cinematography. In fact, I’d go so far to say that there are moments captured so beautifully that I’d swear they were completely staged on a Hollywood set. Before I even get to the story I have to comment on the talent and skill of director Wim Wenders. I’ve seen quite a few documentaries now and I’ve come to select some of my favorite ones for examples of great technical work and I definitely have to add Buena Vista Social Club to the list. The transitions alone are worth the price of this DVD. I know, transitions are such a small portion of any film, but Wenders uses these moments to flesh out the heart of every story and personality. These scenes still stand out in my mind and I think will forever be the first moments I remember from this documentary. Of course, transitions matter little if the story and direction are terrible and thankfully Buena Vista succeeds quite well in the other areas as well. My favorite aspect of this film is that it doesn’t paint this picture of a white American man coming in and saving these talented singers from a miserable lifestyle. This is not a ‘rags-to-riches’ story in the slightest, and for me, that was a breath of fresh air. No, Wenders’ documentary is better thought of as a tale of several talented musicians who, even past their prime, still love to sing and are offered a chance to find success in what they love. My favorite scenes find either Ibrahim Ferrer or Omara Portuondo walking through the streets singing to anyone they pass. It’s both beautiful and uplifting and will certainly warm your soul. Finding people who seem to love music not because of its political influences but because they find it to be a driving force in their own lives is wonderful to witness on film and Wenders does all he can to keep any ulterior motives out of his work. I could go on and on about other similar scenes that I enjoyed, but I think I’ve made my point. Buena Vista Social Club is not necessarily a ground breaking film, nor is its plot or characters breathtakingly unique. But, it is a very solid documentary with characters you will love and it’s put together by a filmmaker who knows how to emphasize the details- spicing up the film in just the right way. Review by Matthew Abshire Informative: 4- You learn a lot about the characters, but little about their rise to prominence… a minor quibble, but it must be stated Entertainment: 4- stories mingle with songs in near perfect harmony Technical: 5- there are so many beautiful shots and transitions that I began to wonder if this whole thing wasn't just staged Overall: 4- a wonderful profile piece that lacks a driving force (i.e. story) to propel audiences along
 
Format: DVD Year: 1999 Running Time: 101 Min Distributor: Artisan Entertainment Producer: Ulrich Felsberg and Deepak Nayar Director: Wim Wenders Date Reviewed: 11-10-2008 Story: American guitarist Ry Cooder brings together a group of legendary Cuban folk musicians (some in their 90s) to record a Grammy-winning CD in their native Havana. The result is spectacular as subsequent concert footage of gigs in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and New York City's Carnegie Hall proves. Director Wim Wenders captures not only the music, but also the life stories of these fascinating artists (NetFlix).