The film documents how Ry Cooder, long-time friend of Wenders, brought together legendary Cuban musicians to record a CD of the same name, and to perform a concert in the USA. Although geographically close, travel between Cuba and the USA is 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 touching interviews with each of the main performers.
It made the musicians, some of them already in their nineties, known to a world-wide audience, and some went on to release popular solo albums; these included Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, Rubén González and Elíades Ochoa.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000.
There is also an album by the same name, which features studio versions of the music heard in the movie.
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