Buena Vista Social Club (1999)

 

Do you like music and have a broad taste? Then you'll love this.

Ry Cooder is a musician who has always been on the lookout for new takes and he is enamoured by Cuba and Cuban music. Little did he know that he would eventually make a massively successful album with Cuban musicians and singers, most of whom were over the age of 70. 

But that is not really what this documentary is about. Heck, you can scarcely call it a documentary, as it doesn't really focus on explaining anything. What you do get, is some of the musicians giving you a little backstory and explaining love of the craft and then it's off again for a ton of music, both in the studio, or somewhere outside and during two special shows (one in Amsterdam, one in New York). 

See, this film isn't intent on killing any mystique about the music in and of itself. Here, it simply is about the music and director Wim Wenders just lets it flow thoughout. It is great to see how much fun these elderly musicians still have. Heck, if you have to pick people that stand out, it would have to be Compay Segundo and Ibrahim Ferrer, who clearly love life to the fullest. Ferrer and Rubén Gonzalez actually never thought they would still be playing music to massive crowds at their age, but you never can tell. 

So yes, it's all about the music. But if there is a downside to this documentary, it is that it is shot in an incredibly slow fashion. No fancy cuts, no flashy editing. That makes sense, as they try to capture that laidback clichéd feel of Cuba, but it can become a little tedious at times, especially as you sit in anticipation of the next song that will be presented. But on the other hand, this slow pace is a nice change of, well, 'pace' in a world that is constantly trying to become faster. Here, you get to slow everything down and just sit back, relax and enjoy. 

I'm pretty sure you will want to buy the album as well afterwards. I recommend you do so.