Review of Che: Part One (2008) by Walter M — 13 Dec 2010

Part One(The Argentine) starts with a geography lesson of Cuba, a map that might help with understanding the Cuban Revolution. In 1957, 82 men travel in a boat from Mexico; only 12 make it to the end to savor victory in Havana. One of them is Ernesto 'Che' Guevara(Benicio Del Toro). At this time, he is not the legend he will later become, as he loses a staring contest with Jorge Sotus(Jsu Garcia), a comrade. In response, he is demoted by Fidel Castro(Demian Bichir) and is not given command of one of the columns. So, he develops revolutionary discipline by first putting his medical training to good use.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, "Che" takes an epic approach to its material which ironically also works against it, as it seems at times that the movie is as long as the Hundred Years' War.(Yes, the revolution did not happen overnight but still...) Bookending the film was a controversial visit in 1964 to New York City as Che defends the new Cuba to any and all as an independent state. He is most defiant at the United Nations where he admits to executions, almost accusing other Latin American nations of similar behavior. Since Part One ends 186 miles outside of Havana in 1959, I'll leave the debates on Cuban government to those who really care. What we're concerned with here is Che, the revolutionary.