Wim Wenders, 1999

I have loved Latin-American music since I was about twelve so this documentary, directed by Wim Wenders, which depicts the recording of an album and two concerts (in Amsterdam and at Carnegie Hall in New York) by retired Cuban folk musicians and organised by music producer and guitarist Ry Cooder (a friend of Wenders) was bound to impress me. It did not disappoint. The film captures the sensuality of the music, the vibrancy of Havana and Cuban culture and the passion and talent of those involved in the project. There are unmistakeable nods to the country’s revolutionary past but the focus is very much on the performers, who give interviews which are interspersed with footage from the concerts and the recording studio. The audience gets an insight into the traditions of Cuban son, with its use of instruments such as the güiro and claves (percussion instruments, the latter of which is fundamental to Cuban music as it is used to dictate the fundamental rhythm, or clave, of a tune) and the laúd (a string instrument descended from the lute). The joy conveyed by everyone on screen in the performances is infectious and I have no doubt that this feature would charm anyone from enthusiasts to those unfamiliar with the musical genre.

© Daniel Cummings 2023