Saturday, April 23, 2005

Diarios de Motocicleta


Rented a nice little road movie called the Motorcycle Diaries. It's directed by Brazilian director Walter Salles. If you get offended by the site of kids wearing Che shirts ... then maybe you shouldn't watch this. If you have a hard time separating public from private personas for celebrities ... probably not your flick. If your tastes in literature/cinema/politics are somewhere to the right of Tom Clancy and Bruce Willis ... run!!!!

Here's a little plot summary from IMDB:
  • "The Motorcycle Diaries is an adaptation of a journal written by Ernesto "Che" Guevara(Bernal) when he was 23 years old. He and his friend, Alberto Granado (de la Serna) are typical college students who, seeking fun and adventure before graduation, decide to travel across Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Peru in order to do their medical residency at a leper colony. Beginning as a buddy/road movie in which Ernesto and Alberto are looking for chicks, fun and adventure before they must grow up and have a more serious life. As is said in the film itself, it's about "two lives running parallel for a while." The two best friends start off with the same goals and aspirations, but by the time the film is over, it's clear what each man's destiny has become."

It's not really an overtly political movie but rather it just provides a glimpse into those formative experiences that may have molded the idealism of a young revolutionary. The cinematography is great. It is a very witty movie that works because it is many things ... a road movie, a buddy movie, a political drama ... without dwelling on any of them for too long.

I don't believe that you have to agree with the politics of Che Guevera to enjoy this movie. In fact, it still works as a movie even if you didn't know who he was at all. But knowing who he is, it helps to humanize him. If that doesn't scare you, then I recommend this movie.

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