This film is currently unavailable
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_480x270/public/hero-images/Buena_Vista_Social_Club.jpg?itok=ApWc50Z3)
Buena Vista Social Club
Cuba’s rich and colourful past comes vividly to life in this legendary, Oscar-nominated documentary from director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas, Wings of Desire).
Director: Wim Wenders
Overview
Cuba’s rich and colourful past comes vividly to life in this legendary, Oscar-nominated documentary from director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas, Wings of Desire). The Grammy Award–winning Buena Vista Social Club album produced by Ry Cooder, remains the biggest-selling world music album ever. It showcases the talents of a dream team of veterans from Cuban music's golden age and it introduced the rhythms of Son, Bolero and Danzón to a whole new audience. In this extraordinary film Wenders intimately documents Ry Cooder’s return to Havana, encountering these musical legends again as they look back to the halcyon days of Cuba’s music scene, when the rich and famous travelled from all over the world to listen to them.
In the climax their music comes alive once again, as they rehearse for their first – and only – performance in America, at New York’s Carnegie Hall. More than a musical occasion that historic sell-out show is the uplifting finale to this documentary, which remains one of the greatest musical films ever made.
Related
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Name-Me-Lawand_1920-4.jpg?itok=pOFk3qQP)
Name Me Lawand Name Me Lawand
Documentary 2022 90 mins Director: Edward Lovelace
Edward Lovelace explores the power of communication and community with this rapturous portrait of a young deaf Kurdish boy.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/powell.jpg?itok=kEpa0KYh)
Vision, Dreams and Magic: The Unmade Films of Michael Powell Vision, Dreams and Magic: The Unmade Films of Michael Powell
Short documentary 2024 41 mins Director: Nic Wassell
Discover the unrealised visions and passion projects of revered British filmmaker Michael Powell, in this fascinating documentary featuring Oscar-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Anselm-02_1920.jpg?itok=IumdrCkA)
Anselm Anselm
Biopic 2023 94 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders' stately and beautifully scored study of Anselm Kiefer.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Flavio-03.jpg?itok=ya-CdsJe)
Flavio Flavio
Documentary 1964 11 mins Director: Gordon Parks
Photographer Gordon Parks’ remarkable film depicts a day in the life of an industrious 12-year-old boy living in the impoverished favela slums of Rio de Janeiro.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Everything-at-Once_01.jpg?itok=AlL8KHwm)
Everything at Once Everything at Once
Documentary 2021 103 mins Director: Alberto Fuguet
A peek behind the scenes at the homoerotic photography zine Kink, which has cultivated an intimate style employing non-professional models.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/otatc-1920.jpg?itok=tXKJQsiJ)
Of Time and the City Of Time and the City
Documentary 2008 74 mins Director: Terence Davies
Brilliantly mixing archive film and music, Liverpool-born director Terence Davies reflects with wit and wisdom on a times of change, for good or ill
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/021-paris-texas-theredlist.jpg?itok=UGCFHkpa)
Paris, Texas Paris, Texas
Drama 1984 145 mins Director: Wim Wenders
The late, great Harry Dean Stanton's finest role came as the near-mute Travis, on a journey across America to reunite his family, in Wim Wenders' moving tale of loss and redemption.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/american-friend2_0.jpg?itok=JU9B6mGQ)
The American Friend The American Friend
Film noir 1978 121 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Acclaimed director Wim Wenders, with the help of Dennis Hopper, transforms Patricia Highsmith's novel 'Ripley's Game' into a gripping European noir.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/scarlet-letter-1.jpg?itok=YNSBH45J)
The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter
Period drama 1972 90 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders adapts the acclaimed novel in which a Puritan village chastises a young mother for giving birth out of wedlock.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/land_of_plenty_1920x1080.jpg?itok=IlGagihh)
Land of Plenty Land of Plenty
Drama 2004 124 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Michelle Williams teams up with Wim Wenders in this fascinating portrait of the contrasting worldviews between a dedicated missionary and a paranoid war veteran.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/wings-of-desire.jpg?itok=s47MX_aZ)
Wings of Desire Wings of Desire
Fantasy 1987 128 mins Director: Wim Wenders
In director Wim Wenders' (Paris, Texas) most metaphysical work, a guardian angel desires nothing more than to be human. Presented in a stunning new restoration.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/goalie1.jpg?itok=OfX9j9Dz)
The Goalie's Anxiety At The Penalty Kick The Goalie's Anxiety At The Penalty Kick
Crime 1971 103 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Unavailable for three decades, Wim Wenders’ 1972 classic about an errant footballer who turns to crime; restored and remastered in stunning 4K.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Anselm-02_1920.jpg?itok=IumdrCkA)
Anselm Anselm
Biopic 2023 94 mins Director: Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders' stately and beautifully scored study of Anselm Kiefer.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/wings-of-desire.jpg?itok=s47MX_aZ)
Wings of Desire Wings of Desire
Fantasy 1987 128 mins Director: Wim Wenders
In director Wim Wenders' (Paris, Texas) most metaphysical work, a guardian angel desires nothing more than to be human. Presented in a stunning new restoration.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/021-paris-texas-theredlist.jpg?itok=UGCFHkpa)
Paris, Texas Paris, Texas
Drama 1984 145 mins Director: Wim Wenders
The late, great Harry Dean Stanton's finest role came as the near-mute Travis, on a journey across America to reunite his family, in Wim Wenders' moving tale of loss and redemption.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/BALTIMORE--01.jpg?itok=9YyPy4RZ)
Baltimore Baltimore
Historical drama 2023 98 mins Director: Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor
Imogen Poots grounds Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor's meditative portrayal of terrorist, disinherited heiress and expectant mother Rose Dugdale.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/ncbld_stl_2_h.jpg?itok=3YhhXdTa)
In Cold Blood In Cold Blood
Crime 1967 135 mins Director: Richard Brooks
Powerful adaptation of Truman Capote’s true-crime novel about the massacre of a family in Kansas, and the manhunt for the killers.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/FourLittleAdults-01.jpg?itok=LuQRTG7G)
Four Little Adults Four Little Adults
Drama 2023 123 mins Director: Selma Vilhunen
A Finnish couple facing a marital crisis venture into the world of polyamory, in this mature meditation on love.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/OneFalse-Move-03.jpg?itok=OPU-2wJs)
One False Move One False Move
Crime 1990 106 mins Director: Carl Franklin
Explosive thriller starring Bill Paxton as a small-town Sheriff, out to bust a gang of LA drug dealers… until he learns his ex-girlfriend is one of them.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Teachers-Lounge-03.jpg?itok=HGhiXVID)
The Teachers' Lounge The Teachers' Lounge
Drama 2023 99 mins Director: Ilker Çatak
A teacher’s life unravels when one of her students is accused of stealing in this arresting, Oscar-nominated thriller.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/PROTAGONISTS-01_0.jpg?itok=OWs_Yy0t)
The Protagonists The Protagonists
Drama 1999 87 mins Director: Luca Guadagnino
The rarely seen debut by acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) is a bizarre drama-documentary recreating a motiveless London murder.