Movie Friday

This week, I am recommending The Motorcycle Diaries staring Gael Garcia Bernal as a young Che Guevara and Rodrigo De la Serna as his best friend Alberto Granado. The movie is based upon the memories of Che Guevara and tell the story of a motorcycle trip in his early 20s that inspired and changed the course of his life.

This movie is in Spanish and is subtitled, so if you can't hack that, move on. Again, as in Central Station, this movie brings forth the amazing and unspoiled beauty of South America. Seeing everything from the pampas of Argentina to the mountains and lakes of Chile to Machu Picchu to the villages of the Amazon rain forest, your breath is taken away by scene after scene of wonder. The movie (and the real ride) took place in the early 1950s, so it is always interesting to look back and see how many things have changed and yet, many things stay the same.

Bernal brings forth a youthful exuberance and freshness to this role that could have easily been cliche. Che Guevara studied medicine and became a physician, but eventually involved himself in politics and guerilla fighting to right the injustices he saw in the world. He became a Marxist and assisted in the Guatemalan social revolution of 1951 before becoming a key player in Fidel Castro's Communist Cuban revolution between 1956 and 1959. Eventually, with the help of the CIA, he was assassinated by local Army forces in Bolivia on October 9, 1967. The principles and ideals that Che espoused live on today as does his memory. This movie captures the events that inspired this man to accomplish all he did in his short lifetime.

Yes, it is an idealistic film and a bit preachy, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film and I feel strongly that you will too.

Have a great weekend. Cuidate.