Directed by Walter Salles
Starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Rodrigo De la Serna
Based on the journals of Che Guevara
This film chronicles the journey of two Argentinian friends – Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado- as they travel the length of South America. The trek begins with a romantic sense of adventure as they ride their Ancient Norton Motorbike (nicknamed ‘The Mighty One’) across the breadth of Argentina to Chile before beginning their northward passage through the continent.
Despite the premature death of The Mighty One, the two friends continue their 8 month trek by hitching rides and, in doing so, begin to see a Latin America very different from the romantic notions they held at the beginning. They see the majestic ruins of the Incas at Machu Picchu and wonder at the destruction of this civilisation. On the road, they encounter people blighted by poverty and treated as little more than slaves. Geuvara’s sense of injustice grows daily as he witnesses more and more suffering during his travels. Eventually, they reach a Leper colony in Peru and, by now, both men are questioning the value of an economic system that leaves so many on the outside – beyond help and yet, so crippled by the system that they are almost unable to help themselves. In one moment of despair whilst staring at the Inca ruins, Guevara asks in response to Granado’s idea of a peaceful revolution: ‘How can you have a revolution without guns?’
This movie sets out to look at a defining moment in the life of Ernesto Guevara – to search for the reasons why this youthful Argentinian plagued by asthmatic attacks turned away from his dream of becoming a doctor and become instead the revolutionary guerrilla known as ‘Che’. Through stunning photography, wonderful acting, a thought provoking, sometimes witty dialogue, this film succeeds big time. It is enthralling and enlightening and I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Watch it, enjoy it and understand that Che Guevara was much more than an iconic piece of pop art printed on a T shirt. So very much more.
Recommended reading: Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson
Starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Rodrigo De la Serna
Based on the journals of Che Guevara
This film chronicles the journey of two Argentinian friends – Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado- as they travel the length of South America. The trek begins with a romantic sense of adventure as they ride their Ancient Norton Motorbike (nicknamed ‘The Mighty One’) across the breadth of Argentina to Chile before beginning their northward passage through the continent.
Despite the premature death of The Mighty One, the two friends continue their 8 month trek by hitching rides and, in doing so, begin to see a Latin America very different from the romantic notions they held at the beginning. They see the majestic ruins of the Incas at Machu Picchu and wonder at the destruction of this civilisation. On the road, they encounter people blighted by poverty and treated as little more than slaves. Geuvara’s sense of injustice grows daily as he witnesses more and more suffering during his travels. Eventually, they reach a Leper colony in Peru and, by now, both men are questioning the value of an economic system that leaves so many on the outside – beyond help and yet, so crippled by the system that they are almost unable to help themselves. In one moment of despair whilst staring at the Inca ruins, Guevara asks in response to Granado’s idea of a peaceful revolution: ‘How can you have a revolution without guns?’
This movie sets out to look at a defining moment in the life of Ernesto Guevara – to search for the reasons why this youthful Argentinian plagued by asthmatic attacks turned away from his dream of becoming a doctor and become instead the revolutionary guerrilla known as ‘Che’. Through stunning photography, wonderful acting, a thought provoking, sometimes witty dialogue, this film succeeds big time. It is enthralling and enlightening and I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Watch it, enjoy it and understand that Che Guevara was much more than an iconic piece of pop art printed on a T shirt. So very much more.
Recommended reading: Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson
