★ 7 / 10
Ernesto Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal), affectionally nicknamed “F...
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Ernesto Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal), affectionally nicknamed “Fuser” by his best friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) is about to join set off with…
Ernesto Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal), affectionally nicknamed “Fuser” by his best friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) is about to join set off with him on an epic journey across South America on a rickety old Norton 500 motorcycle that has certainly seen better days. Their plan is to cover the over ten thousand kilometre distance between Buenos Aires and the northern tip of the continent, via Patagonia, before Granado reaches his thirtieth birthday. Their first stop is at the chateau-style home of his girlfriend Chichina (Mia Maestro) but thereafter it is just them, their machine, and the elements as they embark on quite an eye-opening road trip. “Che” Guevara is in the latter stages of training to be a doctor, specialising in leprosy, and along the way they stop off at a leprosarium where he becomes even further convinced of what he believed before his travels began: that this resource-rich but poverty-stricken continent could not function effectively unless it were to be united into one single political entity devoid of man-made division and self-interest. His companion is less philosophical in his outlook, looking mainly to enjoy his trip and get laid whenever and wherever he can. The complimentary attitudes of the pair, though not always in agreement, and the stunning cinematography provide a poignant setting for this realisation of his diaries of their actual trip. His powers of description are eloquent, emotionally-charged and GGB manages to sensitively combine the vulnerabilities of his character with the visionary aspects of a man who desires something better for himself and the peoples he encounters. It’s sometimes quite funny too, with de la Serna and their unreliable Norton providing some light-heartedness and there are provocative and celebratory cultural references a-plenty as we meet the Inca and the In-capable. This is much more than a travelogue, and it has an curious and exploratory look to it that delivers food for the eyes and the brain - the soul, even. There is something positively mystic about their trip through the snow-capped Andes and this is a compelling and enjoyable piece of cinema.
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A sorely needed window on South America
leloo dallas
The Motorcycle Diaries does a great job of sketching out the character of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, without any pandering to our knowledge of who he will…
The Motorcycle Diaries does a great job of sketching out the character of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, without any pandering to our knowledge of who he will become. There are no cheap shots and only one 'Che' joke-to explain the origin of the nickname, which is a play on the Argentinian accent. It's a deeply felt examination of the events that inspired the development of a political consciousness, with only a few touches of the hagiography that has developed around 'el Che' and those not until late in the film. Gael Garcia Bernal is completely believable and very human in the role, and there's real chemistry between him and Rodrigo de la Serna (any relation?) who plays his friend Granado, leading to a lot of funny moments-important, as ther are many stretches of the movie where it is just them and the scenery. The cinematography is truly gorgeous, and reminded me how little of the South American landscape we ever see on film in the U.S. The cinematographer has pulled off a major feat in shooting a period film in slightly grainy, sometimes shaky hand-held. No crane shots or sepia tinting here-the film quality immerses you in Guevara and Granado's experiences and makes them feel very immediate, without sacrificing any sense of history. A film like this is long overdue, and it deserves wide distribution. While the plot revolves around Che's awakening to the social struggles of South America (which are ongoing) there is a rich sense of place, and people, and beauty here. It seems to me that this is the first South American film in a few years that is not a world-weary documentary about social or political problems (and U.S. involvement in them), to open in the U.S. market. It's about the life of Che, yes, but it doesn't forget the people and problems that lead him into political activity, and will hopefully inspire viewers to pay more attention to what is going on around them, not only in Buenos Aires, Cuzco, Havana or Chiapas, but right next door.
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vertagooda aweoano ni la viste porque la wea esta en puto frances!