I just finished watching Steven Soderbergh's four-hour biopic Che starring Benicio Del Toro and Ive been inspired to write a review. The movie is currently in theatres in very limited release but if you have On Demand you can purchase it from the Sundance Channel. The film was originally set up to be released as two separate films. The first half being called The Argentine and the second half being called Guerilla. The two final versions have been combined as one and are being shown in theatres with a half-hour intermission under the single title Che. If you purchase it from On Demand you will have to pay separately for both halves of the movie.
The first half of the film is based on Ches published diaries Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War and covers the period from 1955 through 1959. Its also intercut with scenes from his visit to the United Nations in New York in 1964 where he spoke on behalf and acted as diplomat for the Cuban people. Most of the first half takes place in the jungles as Che and his guerillas make there way through Cuba to Havana securing city after city.
The second half of the film focuses on Ches time spent in Bolivia and is based off his unfinished diaries officially published as The Bolivian Diary. This second half of the film focuses on the periods from 1965 through his assassination in Bolivia in 1967. Like the first half, a majority of the second half takes place in the jungles. The scenery is broken up with interactions in the Bolivian villages and scenes involving the Bolivian government discussing what to do about Ches activities in the country.
There is no mention of Ches history or early years in either of the two halves. The movie strictly covers the time he spent as a guerilla fighter during and after the Cuban Revolution. In order to understand why Che is doing was he is doing its important to understand his history. I recommend reading the books and watching the documentaries but if you just want to keep it cinematic then check out Walter Salless 2004 movie The Motorcycle Diaries. The Motorcycle Diaries. might as well be the considered the official prequel to Che. It covers his early years as young doctor traveling through Central America and gives light into how and why he became who he became.
Benicio Del Toro is the best thing about this film. No other actor could have done the part justice and the fact that they cast an actor of Latin-American decent makes the performance that much more authentic. 85% of the film is in Spanish with English subtitles also making the movie as authentic possible.
Ive been anticipating the release of this movie since I first heard about its production two years ago. I am an admirer of Che Guevera. He encouraged education. He was a doctor. A teacher. A writer. An avid reader. A diplomat. A humanitarian. And most importantly, he wasnt afraid to fight and die for the causes he believed in. His story is controversial. He participated in assassinations and has been called a murderer. He studied the ideas of Karl Marx and has been officially marked as a communist. But he cared. He cared for the people being taken advantage by their governments. He fought to make life better for the forgotten. He promoted the building of schools and hospitals in lands that had none. He encouraged the beaten and broken to stand up and fight to be heard. He inspired the workers to strike. And he encouraged hope and possibility.
In closing, this is a movie that needed to be made and its a movie that should be watched.
The first half of the film is based on Ches published diaries Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War and covers the period from 1955 through 1959. Its also intercut with scenes from his visit to the United Nations in New York in 1964 where he spoke on behalf and acted as diplomat for the Cuban people. Most of the first half takes place in the jungles as Che and his guerillas make there way through Cuba to Havana securing city after city.
The second half of the film focuses on Ches time spent in Bolivia and is based off his unfinished diaries officially published as The Bolivian Diary. This second half of the film focuses on the periods from 1965 through his assassination in Bolivia in 1967. Like the first half, a majority of the second half takes place in the jungles. The scenery is broken up with interactions in the Bolivian villages and scenes involving the Bolivian government discussing what to do about Ches activities in the country.
There is no mention of Ches history or early years in either of the two halves. The movie strictly covers the time he spent as a guerilla fighter during and after the Cuban Revolution. In order to understand why Che is doing was he is doing its important to understand his history. I recommend reading the books and watching the documentaries but if you just want to keep it cinematic then check out Walter Salless 2004 movie The Motorcycle Diaries. The Motorcycle Diaries. might as well be the considered the official prequel to Che. It covers his early years as young doctor traveling through Central America and gives light into how and why he became who he became.
Benicio Del Toro is the best thing about this film. No other actor could have done the part justice and the fact that they cast an actor of Latin-American decent makes the performance that much more authentic. 85% of the film is in Spanish with English subtitles also making the movie as authentic possible.
Ive been anticipating the release of this movie since I first heard about its production two years ago. I am an admirer of Che Guevera. He encouraged education. He was a doctor. A teacher. A writer. An avid reader. A diplomat. A humanitarian. And most importantly, he wasnt afraid to fight and die for the causes he believed in. His story is controversial. He participated in assassinations and has been called a murderer. He studied the ideas of Karl Marx and has been officially marked as a communist. But he cared. He cared for the people being taken advantage by their governments. He fought to make life better for the forgotten. He promoted the building of schools and hospitals in lands that had none. He encouraged the beaten and broken to stand up and fight to be heard. He inspired the workers to strike. And he encouraged hope and possibility.
In closing, this is a movie that needed to be made and its a movie that should be watched.
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CHE: PART ONE/ PART TWO
Year: December 12, 2008
Year: December 12, 2008
Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Demián Bichir, Santiago Cabrera, Jorge Perugorría, Edgar Ramirez
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Peter Buchman (Screenplay), Ernesto 'Che' Guevara (Memoir "Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War")
Genre: Biography | Drama | History | War
Runtime: 4 hr. 18 min.
Country: France | Spain | USA
Language: English | Spanish
Company: Estudios Picasso, Laura Bickford Productions, Morena Films, Section Eight, Telecinco, Wild Bunch
I'm hoping to get to Havana soon, before Castro passes on.
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