Rating: 
Summary: Horrible sound editing trivializes the experience
Review: Yes, I saw the movie. I had reveled in music like this on another compilation titled 'Cuba Classics: Dancing with the Enemy'. But the movie destroys the sense of how these musicians rhythmically mesh with and play off of each other. This is not sopping-wet-with-ego rock music, for Pete's sake! This is genuine virtuoso Cuban dance music, but Cooder and his crew, when isolating each individual musician, decided to turn down the volume of all the other parts! How ridiculous! There were only a very few short segments when you get to hear how the ensemble actually sounds like. I mean, what's the point? Many of the instruments (such as the piano) which are used almost exclusively as melodic/harmonic instruments in our culture are more engaged in for their rhythmic propensities in Cuba and Africa. Isolating them like this completely kills the sense that this is music. And then oftentimes when the whole ensemble is playing, the engineer dials in so much reverb that it muddies up the mux. Again, you lose the sense of what Cuban music is, and how it sounds. What right do these guys have to make roots music sound something like reverb-drenched heavy metal? There's a difference between freedom of speech and free dumb of screech!
I was very surprized a couple of years after the movie to be in a coffee shop here in town and hear some absolute kick-butt old-style Cuban music playing on their stereo. I asked what it was, and found that it was the the original 'Buena Vista Social Club' CD compilation which came out sometime prior to the movie and inspired it. This CD did not have the problems at all that came with the later video/movie, at least not the cuts I got to listen to. Note that if you don't know this type music very well, the documentary parts of the movie are excellent . . . probably at least 4 stars for that, probably more.
Rating: 
Summary: A marvelous portrayal of the heart of a resilient people
Review: This movie is about the reunion of a group of musicians that had flourished in the Golden Era of Cuban music, but that had faded away into anonymity after decades of changes in musical taste among the public. There was, however, someone who had not forgotten these legends of Cuban music. Ry Cooder, who had heard their recordings two decades before but had never met them personally, had the idea of going to Cuba to find them all and get them back together and have the chance to play with them to produce new recordings. Little did he know what a phenomenon his idea would become. They went on to win a Grammy for one of their records, and toured Europe with sold-out performances in venues of the caliber of the Vienna opera house. I quote Wim Wenders (the director) from an interview with Charlie Rose: "I mean, they were in Vienna at the opera house, and they had a standing ovation, Rubén and Ibrahim, for 20 minutes. Never happened in the history of the Viennese opera house. Even Richard Strauss didn't get that sort of applause." The movie, which was originally intended to be a documentary, combines the reenactments of some of the moments when they first met with Ry Cooder, and intertwines them with scenes from life in every-day Cuba and interviews with selected members of the newly formed group. It also includes scenes from their performance in Amsterdam and their visit to New York City to perform at the Carnegie Hall. Their music serves as a central theme that provides a smooth continuity to the flow of the movie. This movie captures not only a great story of a group of musicians that resurfaced from shoe-shining to shining-stars, but also the heart of a nation that has lived in isolation for over four decades. You learn how the wealth of a nation can not always be measured in terms of money. Cuba is indeed a very wealthy nation.
Rating:
Summary: you might get adicted...
Review: wim wenders together with ry cooder has created what thousands of latin music friends where waiting for. a tender review of the greatest and most important musicans of the cuban scene. from their age they are old, but considering their never lost capacity of playing their instruments, their statements, their way of life, their happyness performing with ry and the guys - they all have stayed young at heart. this film is an important contribution to the musical understanding between "different" cultures. the mixture of fantastic songs and sound, great camera, close ups, lively interviews and nice shots from the cuban scenery makes it a film, that you will watch again and again, alone or with good friends to enjoy a bit of "latin felling". light yourself a good cuban cigar, get some goooood glasses of rum "havanna club" lean back and enjoy.
fabulous.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful music, rich history, excellent DVD
Review: This is an awesome movie/concert. You can expect a rare glimpse into life in havana, cuba, and an historical overview of cuban jazz that came out of the 1950's. Americans rarely get to see Cuba, much less experience its rich culture and music (as we once did), and this DVD gives you the opportunity to do both. I have shown it to my students just to give them some perspective. I believe this is not only an emnjoyable film, but is also important. The music itself stands alone and is undeniably excellent. After watching this film, my appreciation for cuban jazz multiplied. I saw Buena Vista Social Club perform in Atlanta over the summer in 2001 and their music was heavenly. I highly recommend this DVD, whether you are familiar with the music or not. After watching it, you will want more of this music. ...And possibly even a glimpse of Havana for yourself!
Rating:
Summary: Truly A Treasure
Review: El mejor documental he visto siempre. Esta película es sobre el re-descubrimiento de una era animada de la música cubana. Sin la música, la historia es fascinadora. Con la música, es verdad un tesoro. Soy muy agradecido que Ibrahim Ferrer y sus socios se ha juntado y compartí su música maravillosa con el resto del mundo. Esto es una gran manera para que los americanos comiencen a aprender sobre el corazón y el alma de Cuba! Después de oír esta música, usted entenderá porqué Ry Cooder buscaba para este grupo. Después de todos estos años, el grupo continúa excitando a las audiencias. El DVD tiene escenas adicionales, incluyendo entrevistasexclusivas y funcionamientos musicales. El sonido es espectacular.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely incredible!
Review: If you have already become familiar with the beauty that is the Buena Vista Social Club, you know what to expect. If not, I'll hopefully give you just an idea of how incredible this truly is. It is a pretty tough thing to do however, for words do not adequately capture the feeling. Something to try...get a good cigar. Try a nice Ashton, Dunhill, Victor-Sinclair, H. Upmann, Punch, or...if you have good sources, or crafty customs techniques, an always incredible Cohiba. Next, pour yourself a very good glass of rum, on the rocks. Any adult beverage will do, but this one just sets well with the cigar and the atmosphere. Then, open all your windows. True, this only works well if you are in a decent latitude. Next, pop in this dvd. Enjoy. This is pure beauty. I discovered the BVSC many years ago, and after first having purchased the BVSC cd, I was COMPELLED to get everything I could get my hands on. So, along came the releases from Compay, Ibrahim, Omara, Cachaito, Rueben, Afro-Cuban All Stars, etc. I purchased each and every one, as well as all the subsequent releases. Compay for instance now has 3 out. Reuben has 2. Afro-Cuban have 2 as well. And a blessing it is. I pray they continue to pour out the releases. This DVD is the PERFECT visual companion to the cd. It causes one to FEEL the music that much more. To know that these are musicians who LIVE what they sing. They KNOW it. They are still living in it. The documentary allows you to become that more a part of what you are hearing. Then, once you watch this, when you listen to the cd's, you feel that much closer to it and it's much more a part of your soul. It's a dvd filled with concert footage and behind the scenes recording footage. It's filled with images and interviews on the streets of old Cuba....perhaps that's a bit redundant. At any rate, it looks like, amidst the crumbling buildings and streets, like Cuba is frozen in time. Ever since the day of the embargo, things haven't changed. This is incredibly wonderful and incredibly painful at the same time. Definitely get this dvd. Definitely get all the cd's you can. Be careful of BVSC imitators out there however. As many others have tried to cash in on these artists. However, be on the lookout for the many artists that actor Andy Garcia is working with and releasing on cd. He is, remarkably, an incredible trumpet player and is taking painstaking efforts to preserve the same musical heritage as is here. Also, anything in the "Cubanismo" series is without fault. Definitely worth looking into. Now, definitely try to act out what I have set forth above. Add to it a Guyaberra shirt (in your favorite color) and a dancing partner. Then, roll back the rug on the terrazo floors, and enjoy life.
Rating: 
Summary: Great music bad not a successful documentary
Review: It's great to hear Ry Cooder with such fresh and real musicians as on this music documentary. The performances are mostly improvised, and there are moments of magic here. However, as a documentary I don't like the chopped up story and sometimes random order of scenes. The lack of a real, interesting story is evident. OK, we follow the Buena Vista Social Club on their way to stardom, but we do not really get as close to them as we would like. The documentary would have needed a better script. But I'm grateful that this valuable music project has been documented, and seing and hearing Ry Cooder and his talented son (on drums) is great! [...]
Rating:
Summary: MUSICAL TREASURE FROM CUBA
Review: Filmmaker Wim Wenders and guitarist Ry Cooder's documentary of nearly extinct Cuban music of the 1940s and 50s is a refreshing musical treat. The human face put on the Cuban people is a welcome vacation from fifty years of demonizing them and their leaders. In other words, this is an a-political and purely musical, cultural survey of great musicians who Cooder had to first locate in Cuba, dust them off, and then bring them back to musical life by rehearsing with them in Havana. The concert tour of the Buena Vista Social Club in Amsterdam and winding up at Carnegie Hall in New York City are wonderous sights and sounds to behold. Golden voiced vocalist and smiling spiritual leader of the group, the ancient Ibrahim Ferrer (who subsequenetly made several CDs, now sold at Amazon.com). It would have been wonderful to make a sequel of pure musical performances of the group (without Cooder) of their entire repertoire. However, this VHS captures enough of the Buena Vista Social Club's performances to render this documentary a worthwhuile musical experience.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable story... lack of music a minus
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed the story of these amazing musicians and the glimpse of Cuba. Took me to another place and another time. Unfortunately, the lack of "real" music on this DVD was a huge minus for me. I wish it was included. At least as an extra. In fact, it would have been nice to have live footage from some of the performances. Even if one has the CD the additional impact of watching these folks perform would have been great. Oh well...
Rating:
Summary: A great insight into Cuba and it's great music masters
Review: I discovered this group, watching a video of them in my cousin's house, the cinematography is great, particularly showing the beauty of Cuba and Habana, it looks like a beautiful city caught in a time warp: Vintage cars that are well maintained past their useful life with everything running, in the backdrop of paltatial buildings of old architecture and the ocean. It showcases the revival of Cuban music from the Mainland to the audiences of US, Holland and the world. It starts as a project by an American guitarrist of great renown Ry Cooder visiting Cuba in Search of this musicians, they first showcase, a Cuban crooner very reminiscent of Nat King Cole named Ibrahim Ferrer and we go into his home and shares stories about his life, loves and music, and they go through each member of Buena Vista Social Club, which was a nightclub showcasing Cuban music and becomes a musical group in its new formation made up other great Cuban legends: Compay Segundo, Ruben Gonzalez, Eliades Ochoa and great Cuban songstress Omara Portuondo. They show session and rehearsal work with Ry Cooder, their shows in Amsterdam and New York Carnegie with Ry Cooder as one of the guest musicians, and it is very uplifting their simple demeanor of this musicians and awe and wonder of New York City, and their deserved sell out audience at Carnegie Hall, and this shows that maybe they are not so different from us, in spite of our difference in politics from them.
|
