Screenwriter: Jose Rivera (based on Notas de viaje by Ernesto Guevara and “Con el Che por America Latina” by Alberto Granado)
Is it me or have “road trip” movies become as abundant as mafia movies? If you answered ‘Yes, Madeleine, I think they have,’ you may be interested to know that a new type of spoof genre is right around the corner: “Not Another Road Trip” movies. Okay, I’m kidding. But don’t be surprised if you see a trailer for one on a silver screen near you some day soon. It just seems like we haven’t had a decent road trip movie since Rain Man or Thelma and Louise. But I digress a bit….
Focus Features, the same studio that brought you 21 Grams, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Lost in Translation and many other hits, has proven it still has the Midas Touch with The Motorcycle Diaries. This is a powerful foreign film that portrays the turning point in young Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s life when he decided to abandon a promising career as a doctor to help people in a different way – by fighting against tyranny and oppression.
Based on the diaries Guevara kept of their travels and a book by his friend and travel buddy, biochemist Alberto Granado, TMD recounts the adventures of these two best friends as they explore their homeland continent of South America on Granado’s beloved Norton 500 motorcycle. Even though the motorcycle doesn’t make the planned four-month, 8,000-kilometer trip (that actually took almost 12,500 kilometers and six months), the spirit of a meaningful life experience never died.
This is a wonderful story about an idealist who is shocked by life’s harsh realities and decides to take action and help the underdogs of the world. Gael Garcia Bernal (Amores Perros, Y Tu Mama Tabien, Babel) gives a compelling performance as Guevara, beautifully portraying him as a compassionate hero in the making, a true man of the people. And he does so without being egotistical or self-aggrandizing. Che’s own words describe it best: “This isn’t a tale of heroic feats. It’s about two lives running parallel for a while, with common aspirations and similar dreams.”
Although Guevara and Granado (Rodrigo De la Serna) have been forever changed by their shared experiences – meeting downtrodden indigenous peoples and lepers who’ve been shoved aside by society, their common aspirations eventually send them on different paths, as each pursues his calling to help those less fortunate than they.
What I liked: Everything, from the writing, acting and directing to the cinematography and scenery. I felt like I was a third member of the road trip. Now I know why it was nominated for an Oscar® (Best Adapted Screenplay).
What I didn’t: The subtitles went by a little too quickly in places, forcing me to back up a few times. Speaking of…
For those of you who shy away from subtitles in foreign films, I have three words for you: Suck it up! Try something new. You’re only cheating yourself by watching the dubbed version. (Okay that’s fifteen words. But you get my point.) Believe me, the dubbed English version is never as good as the original script. And once you get used to reading the subtitles, you really don’t miss a lot of the action.
Madeleine says: Worth full rental price.
What do you say?
By the way, Benicio Del Toro (21 Grams, Traffic, The Usual Suspects) is set to star as Che Guevara in two movies due out in 2008: Guerrilla and The Argentine. Both will be directed by Steven Soderbergh, and will examine Che’s rise as a revolutionary and folk hero.
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