Buena Vista Social Club

"In Havana, music isn't a pastime, it's a way of life."

1999 1h 45m EN

🙌

7.5

BANGER

★7.5TMDB · 388

DocumentaryMusic

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In this fascinating Oscar-nominated documentary, American guitarist Ry Cooder brings together a group of legendary Cuban folk musicians (some in their 90s) to record a Grammy-winning CD in their native city of Havana. The result is a spectacular compilation of concert footage from the group's gigs in Amsterdam and New York City's famed Carnegie Hall, with director Wim Wenders capturing not only the music -- but also the musicians' life stories.

“In Havana, music isn't a pastime, it's a way of life.”

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Cast

Compay Segundo
Self
Eliades Ochoa
Self
Ry Cooder
Self
Joachim Cooder
Self
Ibrahim Ferrer
Self
Omara Portuondo
Self
Rubén González
Self
Orlando 'Cachaíto' López
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Wim Wenders
Writers: Wim Wenders
Languages: English, Spanish
Countries: Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Cuba

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 5 countries: Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Cuba.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Wim Wenders, shot by Jörg Widmer. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Brian Johnson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Compay Segundo and Eliades Ochoa and Ry Cooder carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In Havana, music isn't a pastime, it's a way of life.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0186508 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Wim Wenders directs. Jörg Widmer behind the camera. Brian Johnson cuts. Produced in Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Cuba. Dialogue in English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

127 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
3International production across 5 countries: Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Cuba.
4Directed by Wim Wenders, shot by Jörg Widmer. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Brian Johnson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Compay Segundo and Eliades Ochoa and Ry Cooder carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "In Havana, music isn't a pastime, it's a way of life.".
8IMDB entry: tt0186508 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.