Buena Vista Social Club

The film documents how Ry Cooder, long-time friend of director Wim Wenders, brought together the ensemble of legendary Cuban musicians to record an album and to perform with a full line-up in April 1998 in Amsterdam and July 1998 at Carnegie Hall, New York. Although they are geographically close, travel between Cuba and the United States was restricted due to the political tension between the two countries, so many of the artists were travelling there for the first time. The film shows their reactions to this experience, as well as including footage of the resultant sell-out concert. It also includes interviews with each of the main performers.