When the album ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ was released it quickly became a world-wide phenomenon, selling millions of copies internationally and winning a Grammy award. Ry Cooder was responsible for rediscovering some veteran Cuban musicians, and had filmmaker Wim Wenders accompany him. Interviews were recorded with veterans like Company Segundo (‘I sing, I dance, I make love,’ he declares at the age of ninety), Ruben Gonzalez and Ibrahim Ferrer. The film also follows the group now known in Cuba as the ‘Super Grandads’ to Amsterdam and New York, where they perform concerts which they appear to enjoy every bit as much as the noisily appreciative audiences.
Germany/U.S.A./ France/Cuba, 1999.
English subtitles.
Colour.
Dolby digital stereo.
105 mins.