Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
93%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
21 wins & 12 nominations total
Buena Vista Social Club is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the essence of Cuba’s vibrant cultural heritage through the lens of Wim Wenders. The film is an ode to the pre-Castro generation of musicians and their craft, which is now largely bygone. Wenders’ impressionistic glance at the notable musicians and their life stories is both intriguing and moving. The documentary resonates like a diplomatic effort that helped set the stage for a post-revolutionary relationship to Cuba, a rare meeting between neighbors after decades of distance. The film packs in an impressive amount of experience and secures the place of these amazing musicians in the larger scope of history. Buena Vista Social Club is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates music, culture, and history.
Buena Vista Social Club is a documentary that will make you want to dance, even if you have two left feet. The film takes you on a journey through Cuba’s vibrant music scene, introducing you to some of the country’s most talented musicians. While the documentary may not be for everyone, it’s hard not to be moved by the passion and dedication of these artists. Whether you’re a fan of Latin music or not, Buena Vista Social Club is a must-see for anyone who loves music and wants to learn more about the rich cultural heritage of Cuba. So grab some popcorn, turn up the volume, and get ready to be transported to a world of rhythm and soul.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Havana, Cuba
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
1999
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 41m
-
Language(s):English, Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 4, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 14, 1999
Genre(s)
Documentary/Music
Keyword(s)
documentary, music, Buena Vista Social Club, G, Wim Wenders, Ulrich Felsberg, Deepak Nayar, Ry Cooder, Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González, Artisan Entertainment, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, $7.0M, reviewed by Owen Gleiberman, Peter Stack, Ed Gonzalez, Kenneth Turan, Russell Smith, Susan Stark, Nicholas Bell, Richard Propes, Landon Palmer, James Kendrick, Emanuel Levy, Afsheen Nomai, starring Luis Barzaga, Joachim Cooder, Julio Alberto Fernández, Carlos González, directed by Wim Wenders, written by Wim Wenders, MPAA rating G, Cuba, musicians, album, studio footage, United States, audiences, documentary film, music film, box office success, budget, producer Ulrich Felsberg, producer Deepak Nayar, critic reviews, audience reviews, documentary about Cuban musicians, Buena Vista Social Club band, Latin jazz, American documentaries, sycophantic, insight into Cuban people, music video, touring, reformation, legends, Ry Cooder fined by US government, verified purchase, Fresh Kernels
Worldwide gross: $23,141,199
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $41,539,097
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,423
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,529,891
US/Canada gross: $7,002,182
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,569,112
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,549
US/Canada opening weekend: $127,370
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $228,633
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,614
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Joachim Cooder – Self
Ry Cooder – Self
Julio Alberto Fernández – Self
Ibrahim Ferrer – Self
Carlos González – Self
Director(s)
Wim Wenders
Writer(s)
Wim Wenders
Producer(s)
Ulrich Felsberg, Deepak Nayar
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
21 wins & 12 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (48) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (4)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 4/4
Peter Stack
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Wenders is clearly an outsider-looking-in.
August 19, 2001 | Rating: 2.5/4
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 4.5/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/5
Russell Smith
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
An impressionistic glance at Cuba’s vibrant cultural heritage, Wim Wenders’ Buena Vista Social Club is an often times intriguing portrait of notable musicians and their craft.
September 12, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
It is nearly impossible to watch this documentary without being moved.
September 4, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Buena Vista Social Club resonates almost like a diplomatic effort that helped set the stage for a post-revolutionary relationship to Cuba, a rare meeting between neighbors after decades of distance.
May 9, 2017
Landon Palmer
Nonfics
Wenders packs in an impressive amount of experience and, most importantly, secured the place of these amazing musicians in the larger scope of history
April 25, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk
One of the best and most impactful docus of the 1990s, Wim Wenders exhilarating feature is at once a trbute to a pre-Castro generation of musicians as well as a largely bygone genre.
August 3, 2011 | Rating: A
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Cuban musicians tell their life stories.
January 1, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Afsheen Nomai
Common Sense Media…
Plot
A group of legendary Cuban musicians, some as old as their nineties, were brought together by Ry Cooder to record a CD. In this film, we see and hear some of the songs being recorded in Havana. There is also footage from concerts in Amsterdam and New York City’s Carnegie Hall. In addition, many of the individual musicians talk about their lives in Cuba and about how they got started in music.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features renowned guitarist Ry Cooder and his son, Joachim, as they travel to Cuba and assemble a group of the country’s finest musicians to record an album.
Wim-Wenders.jpg
