Buena Vista Social Club Reviews
September 12, 2020
An impressionistic glance at Cuba's vibrant cultural heritage, Wim Wenders' Buena Vista Social Club is an often times intriguing portrait of notable musicians and their craft.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
September 4, 2020
It is nearly impossible to watch this documentary without being moved.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/4.0
May 9, 2017
Buena Vista Social Club resonates almost like a diplomatic effort that helped set the stage for a post-revolutionary relationship to Cuba, a rare meeting between neighbors after decades of distance.
April 25, 2017
Wenders packs in an impressive amount of experience and, most importantly, secured the place of these amazing musicians in the larger scope of history
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/4
September 7, 2011
Full Review
| Original Score: B-
August 3, 2011
One of the best and most impactful docus of the 1990s, Wim Wenders exhilarating feature is at once a trbute to a pre-Castro generation of musicians as well as a largely bygone genre.
Full Review
| Original Score: A
January 1, 2011
Cuban musicians tell their life stories.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
February 7, 2010
... celebrates the beauty of Cuba's art while showing how it effortlessly crosses cultures.
November 15, 2009
An affectionate cinematic celebration of that all-but-forgotten music.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/4
August 7, 2008
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
April 12, 2007
Reflects that flavorful, outspoken, provocative, distinctly Cuban Latino-centricity, a weapon against the prolonged U.S. blockade.
June 15, 2006
Cooder is obviously enthralled by the music and the musicians, but it's hardly communicated in a clubby film record that's likely to win few fans outside aficionados.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/4
May 26, 2006
Wenders... is not interested in too many hows, whys, whens, or wheres. He simply wants to spotlight this band and its stories, and he succeeds.
December 6, 2005
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
December 6, 2005
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
April 9, 2005
Full Review
| Original Score: B+
July 7, 2003
Musically impressive but somewhat overpraised documentary
Original Score: 3/5
May 20, 2003
Original Score: 3.5/4
February 17, 2003
Original Score: 3/5
February 11, 2003
A beautiful, touching, and perfectly tuned documentary into Cuban music.
Original Score: 4/5