BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB -1999 – 105 Minutes – Directed by Wim Wenders – Road Movies Filmproduktion – Artisian Home Entertainment

The Buena Vista Social Club documentary captures the soul of Cuba as portrayed in its music and performed by its people. A Documentary film may take many forms. Buena Vista Social Club, directed by Wim Wenders manages to bring the actuality and beauty of classic Cuban music, the singers and musicians who perform it and the world from which it was born to life on the screen. The music also known as “Son” or “Cuban soul” music has an Afro-Cuban Jazz component. The documentary also shows Cuba at the turn of the century where time, for the main part, appears to have stopped in the late fifties.

There are a number of themes that are edited in parallel, creating a story that is both moving and entertaining. Scenes from the concert in Amsterdam, interviews with the Buena Vista Club musicians set against the backdrop of Havana and other locations in Cuba, along with the recording sessions at Egren Studios in Havana, are all seamlessly blended. Finally the musicians’ visit New York City. The last performance of the Buena Vista Social Club is held at Carnegie Hall in New York City. For many of the musicians the visit and perfomance is a dream come true.

In the opening scenes of the film, Compay Segundo one of the well known musicians, visits the neighborhood where the club once existed. These scenes are intercut with establishing shots at the Amsterdam concert. There is a sense, as the concert begins, as to the roots of the music and the musicians.  The stark Cuban colors of Havana and the de-saturated, muted colors of the concert hall, contrast in the montage so that the streets and neighborhoods of Havana feel as though they are there in the concert hall.

Scenes, early in the film, of Havana in 1998 are like moving through a 1950’s auto museum housed among faded buildings. But it’s clear that the roots of the music are much older than the buildings. Each interview with a musician brings us closer to understanding the “son” of Cuban Music. As each musician or singer is introduced he or she is often seen performing in the concert venue as well as in Cuba. Camera work, including Stedicam, by Director of Photography, Jorg Widmer is excellent.

Early in the film Ibrahim Ferrer, who is 70 years old, sings with Omara Portuondo in the Havana recording studio. The scene dissolves into the same song being performed in Amsterdam. The two locations are juxtapositioned a number of times before we return to another interview or location in Cuba. The story is narrated by the music and first person interviews with the musicians and singers. There is no need for a third party voice over narrator. One thing that would have helped the story would have been graphics identifying each musician as they are introduced throughout the documentary since not every person introduces himself or herself. However they are listed in order of appearance at the beginning of the film and alphabetically at the end of the film.

The documentary was conceived out of the success of The Buena Vista Social Club CD that was produced by Ry Cooder for Nick Gold, World Circuit Records.  Ry Cooder, who has worked with Captain Beefheart, Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones, among others, feels that the Buena Vista Social Club CD was the best of his work. The sessions recorded in Cuba were brought back to LA to produce the CD, which ultimately received a Grammy, world acclaim, and sold millions of copies.

A particularly interesting segment is the interview with Barbaro Alberto Torres Degado, also know as, “Barbarito” Torres. Barbarito plays the Cuban Laud, which was brought to Spain by the Moors where it evolved, and ultimately made its way to Cuba, where it once again morphed into the instrument that Barbarito plays. This stringed instrument lends a unique sound to Cuban provincial and contemporary music.

At Carnegie Hall there is a wonderful performance by everyone; Ruben Gonzalez, a 90-year-old pianist, plays piano and is intercut with shots of the performers touring New York City. The music continues under the shots of New York City as they tour, giving the impression that we are seeing the wonders of New York City filtered by the musicians music and experience.

There are twenty plus members of the Buena Vista Social Club who play or sing at both concerts including Compay Segundo, Omara Partuondo, Pio Leyva, Eliades Ochou, Ibrahim Ferrer, Joachim Cooder and Ry Cooder to name only a few.

The Buena Vista Social Club documentary captures the soul of Cuba as portrayed in its music and performed by its people.

JRMartin

Trailer Buena Vista Social Club

Tags: Afro-Cuban Jazz, Buena Vista Social Club, Cuban Music, Documentary

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