I was rewatching some of Buena Vista Social Club the other night and was struck, again, by the dilemma of the movie. Yes, clearly, the music is of paramount interest. So one could just watch with eyes closed. But then you'd miss seeing all the musicians. Plus the footage shot in Havana. All very interesting. What's the dilemma, you axe? Wenders insistence on cutting to Ry frikkin Cooder every 29 seconds or whatever. He's as ubiquitous as G.E. Smith used to be on Saturday Night Live. And looks every bit as smug. The first time I saw the movie, it started out puzzling and ended up annoying. On repeated viewings I've come to see it as fairly condescending. Wenders and Cooder, well, they can appreciate Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, or Eliades Ochoa. But you, benighted Pleasant Brunch Music™ listener that you are, clearly need the presence of some white guy playing guitar to make these old Cuban guys interesting.
If you get the Ovation network on your cable, check out Afro Cuban All Stars at the Salon of Dreams. It doesn't have quite the star wattage of BVSC, and it's a bit overly reverential towards Juan de Marcos, but at least you're spared Ry Cooder's smirking mug.
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