Buena Vista Social Club (1999)★ 7.9/10

I was deeply captivated by the beautiful Cuban music in the film. The elderly men and women, with their graying hair, transformed their pure love for music into passionate and wonderful songs that they share with the world, earning admiration and captivating hearts across the world. This musical spirit is truly touching.

I was unexpectedly moved by the singing commoners. In Cuba, a land that has endured great suffering, people possess a profound passion for the arts and a generous spirit. Hearing them sing with abandon made me almost believe they were angels from heaven, yet they are simply ordinary people just like us.

This is a special case where the director's input doesn't matter much. At least it seemed that way to me. It's more about the music, vibes, and history - offering a window into that world with seemingly zero interference. This was probably the best way to go, though some more obvious inputs from Wim Wenders himself wouldn't be a bad thing, either. The music was great. It was also interesting learning about everyone's passion for music, but it kind of stops there, which is a little disappointing.

It’s a fun, nice look at life in Cuba. It focuses on the voices and faces of the BVSC, letting the country's musical history and the idling shots of the streets of Havana tell the story for Wenders. Even if Cuban music isn't your thing, this documentary still lures you in with that raw emotional joy and sense of relief. Wim Wenders is so good at depicting interesting locations. In every one of his films, there's so much energy and history/culture embedded in each location. It really takes you there. The music was great, and the subject was interesting. This is not my favorite Wenders documentary, but it is still really solid.

These old folks still got it! This is probably the second best concert film after “Stop Making Sense" I've ever seen, and it's also a wonderful anthropological exploration of Cuban music and history. The performances are electrifying, and the interviews are profound and endearing. Wenders adding some artistic flair here and there makes this film a great watching experience.

I lost my mind when the guitarist did one of the most incredible acoustic solos I’ve ever heard, with the guitar being played behind his back! It’s the biggest flex of all time. What a performance! I appreciate a few things more than intense portrayals of musicians, one of them being watching master filmmakers approach concert filming and the little details they pick up as the cameras pan over the stage as beautiful music plays. Learning about talented Cuban musicians and their culture is a wonderful experience. I’ll be so excited to listen to the album.

Although the film exudes passion and joy, this documentary actually serves as one of the last records of jazz and soul music as they slowly decline. It's truly invaluable. The artists' enthusiasm, joy, and talent are all forever preserved, and it also beautifully captures Wim Wenders' unfiltered love and admiration for Cuban music! I can't help but envy those who witnessed the final performances at Buenavista Social Club on July 1st and 2nd, 1998. I wish I could hop over to Havana, grab a drink, and dance to the music!

Watching Rubén González play the piano is just like watching my grandfather lost in thoughts while gently stroking and grooming a calm and content cat nestled in his arms. The music isn't extraordinary, but it’s so pure, quiet, and powerful.

"A revolução é eterna", diz o slogan nas ruas desse país, e o movimento da câmera é infundido com a essência do Tango pela música. As experiências de todos são diretamente narradas por si mesmas. Buena Vista parece ser um modelo "socialista" idealizado para Wenders, onde ninguém menciona tempo, história ou medo.

A música de Havana é linda, inebriante e irresistível. A vida é como um sonho, e talvez adormecer envolto nessas canções que carregam o peso da história seja uma forma correta de "enxergar". Inconscientemente, um sorriso satisfeito pode aparecer em seu rosto. O título parece sugerir que os bons tempos não duram. Isso me lembra um pouco de "Procurando Sugar Man". Embora não envolva o lendário processo de busca, ainda aborda o tema de algo esquecido ser encontrado novamente. Se eles foram lembrados pelo mundo e pela história ou não, é outra questão (talvez isso não tenha acontecido), mas o momento da redescoberta tem o mesmo impacto de quando Davi enfrentou Golias na foto da abertura. A atuação de Carnegie, as lágrimas em seus olhos durante a chamada ao palco e as cenas cortadas das ruas de Havana fazem você se sentir como se estivesse no topo do Empire State, vendo a distante, porém minúscula, chama da Estátua da Liberdade.

As excelentes habilidades são deslumbrantes, naturais, graciosas e leves, deixando a pessoa inebriada sem perceber o caminho de volta. O clima abundante na América do Sul nutre os artistas folclóricos com otimismo, humor e inteligência. As notas e os ritmos parecem estar enraizados em seu sangue e genes. A música é o pilar da alma, o totem da vida e algo que se integra no cotidiano. O jovem roqueiro Wendes finalmente realiza seu sonho e captura preciosos momentos históricos com uma câmera.

La música de La Habana es hermosa, embriagante e irresistible. La vida es como un sueño y quizás quedarse dormido mientras te envuelven estas canciones que cargan con el peso de la historia es la forma correcta de "verla". Sin darte cuenta, quizás sonrías de satisfacción. El nombre "Buena Vista Social Club" parece sugerir que los buenos tiempos no duran. De alguna forma me recuerda a "Searching for Sugar Man". Aunque no trata sobre un proceso de búsqueda de un artista, aborda el tema de que encontraron algo que estaba perdido. Si el mundo y la historia los recuerda o no es otro tema (quizás no hubo tal acción), pero el momento del redescubrimiento tiene el mismo impacto que cuando David enfrentó a Goliat en la foto de apertura. La interpretación de Carnegie, las lágrimas en sus ojos durante el saludo final y las escenas en primer plano de las calles de La Habana te hacen sentir que estás en lo más alto del Empire State Building y que podes ver la antorcha distante pero diminuta de la Estatua de la Libertad.