Buena Vista Social Club: The Criterion Collection DVD

Buena Vista Social Club from The Criterion Collection is a two-disc DVD edition of Wim Wenders’s documentary about Cuban musicians and their international success. Its listed extras include interviews, concert-rehearsal outtakes, additional scenes, a trailer, and an essay.

At a glance

Documentary follows Cuban musicians from Havana to performances at Carnegie Hall.
The described two-DVD special edition lists director Wim Wenders commentary, a new interview, rehearsal outtakes, archival interviews, additional scenes, and a trailer.
Also described as including an essay by Joshua Jelly-Schapiro.

Price

$14.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$29.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Often bought together

Buena Vista Social Club (25th Anniversary) [Deluxe 2 CD]

$15.34

Buena Vista Social Club Original Broadway Cast Recording

$15.21

Pros and cons

Pros

Two discs are listed, with a broad selection of supplemental interviews and footage beyond the documentary.
The film centers on performances and the musicians’ stories, including Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, and Rubén González.

Technical specifications

12 specifications

Format and playback
Media format	NTSC, Widescreen
Color	Color
Disc count	2
Runtime	1 hour and 45 minutes
Language	English
MPAA rating	G (General Audience)

Credits
Director	Wim Wenders
Contributors	Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Rubén González, Ry Cooder, Wim Wenders

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 4 ounces

Edition details
Model number	43480057
Release date	April 18, 2017
Studio	Criterion Collection

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing describes the feature audio and language inconsistently: the product details say English, while the edition description specifies Spanish and English, English subtitles, and 5.1 Surround. Confirm the audio and subtitle options for this DVD edition if they are important to you. The stated high-definition digital transfer is also not a resolution specification for the DVD itself.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers interested in Cuban music, its performers, and Wim Wenders’s documentary filmmaking.
Collectors seeking a DVD edition with interviews, commentary, performance-related material, and an accompanying essay.

Less suited to

Buyers specifically seeking a Blu-ray or an explicitly stated high-definition playback format.

Buena Vista Social Club: The Criterion Collection DVD · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.8 / 5 · 119 ratings

5 stars84%84%
4 stars12%12%
3 stars4%4%
2 stars0%0%
1 star0%0%

Customer feedback praises the music and describes the film as a musical and cultural delight. Picture and audio quality also receive positive mentions. For this DVD edition, those reports may be useful if presentation matters, but one customer’s comparison says the experience is better on Blu-ray. Ratings are mostly five-star, though ratings alone do not explain individual experiences.

Positive themes

Customers praise the music and describe the film as a cultural delight.
Picture and audio quality receive positive feedback.

Mixed feedback

One customer says the film is even better on Blu-ray, a consideration for buyers weighing DVD against a higher-definition format.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in this edition?

The listing identifies a two-disc edition and describes commentary, interviews, rehearsal outtakes, additional scenes, a trailer, and an essay. It does not provide a separate confirmed package inventory.

What languages and subtitles are listed?

The product details list English language, English dubbing, and English subtitles. The edition description instead identifies Spanish and English, English subtitles, and 5.1 Surround, so confirm the precise options before buying if they matter.

Is this a Blu-ray or an HD DVD?

The title identifies this as a DVD. Although the edition description mentions a high-definition digital transfer, the listing does not specify an HD resolution for this DVD.