January 11, 1999 -- The music and the musicians are engaging. Looking inside Havana, Cuba and seeing the people and everyday life in Havana's streets is special for most Americans. But the musical documentary "Buena Vista Social Club" doesn't match up to the 1997 Grammy award winning 1997 album of the same name. Directed by Wim Wenders in collaboration with Ry Cooder, the film rediscovers several locally famous Cuban musicians such as Ibraham Ferrer, Compay Segundo, Omara Portuondo, Julio Alberto Fernandez, and many others.

Some of the musicians are quite elderly. Ruben Gonzalez is 80 and Segundo is over 90. But they, as individuals and musicians, are delightful acts of class and very alive in their seductive performances. They wear colorful everyday clothes and their faces express passion for their music. These glimpses illustrate personal character and make their enchanting music even more meaningful. Each tells us briefly about their childhood, how they began their musical careers, and how their careers swung through many ups and downs over the decades.

Subject matter is one thing, but presentation is another. It is Cooder's goal to find and assemble these musicians and record an album and take them on tour in Europe and the U.S. But I don't know this until later. I found the film often confusing in terms of time and space. Where was I? The film cuts unceasingly back and forth from concert, to street scene, to rehearsal, to a home, back to concert. Often I wondered, why are you showing me that? A woman, smoking the biggest cigar I've ever seen, appears to be sweeping in a street, gazing off camera at nothing. In another scene, we have a close-up, hand-held pan of a very bad paint job on a fifties Plymouth. Why? Oh, there were plenty of nifty shots of forties and fifties cars (almost a Hollywood time warp), grand arches, and beautiful but damaged architecture. But many shots seem to be just dropped in, unrelated to the film's flow and main content.

The shooting style also became a bit nerve wracking. It is clear that the Director rented a steadi-cam. It seems the camera never stopped moving, whether in the rehearsals or on the streets. But many of the mobile shots were appropriate, sweeping through alleys, streets, and inside buildings. The shot selection seemed to embrace the soothing sounds of the folk musicians. The travelling shots of the performers alone in a street or bar or building did seem to point out their isolation from fame and the stage. When the camera was not using the steadi-cam, I came to the conclusion that the cameraman was often a mere beginner. Often MTV, N.Y.P.D. shooting style works. But some of this camera work was just amateurish, shaking beyond style.

We are about 65-minutes into the film before we finally hear from (not see) Ry Cooder, telling us how the film came about and why he made it. These comments would have been much more helpful to the viewer if they had been closer to the top of the film. (Although Wenders and Cooder may have been tempted, they did avoid making this a political film. They did not seek comments from the musicians about their views on Castro versus America. I too wondered about their feelings towards Castro's government, but that would have been another film.)

Finally, in terms of organization, the film could have used a wrap around and flashback approach, using the performance at Carnegie Hall in New York as a grand finale. It would have given Wenders and Cooder the opportunity to treat us to more complete songs by these wonderful musicians. I just wanted to watch and listen to them a little more often than they gave me. And it would have been a way to know where the film was headed.

Despite the film's style and organization, the sights and sounds of these Cuban musicians and the magic and passion they exude is well worth the watching. If you bought the album, rent or buy this film. You will love it at least for the personalities behind the music.

Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Mike McElreath can be reached via e-mail as MikeM@uwyo.edu