Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) by Zehra P — 05 Mar 2011

Itâ(TM)s 1952 and Biochemist, Alberto Granado, has a dream to ride around Latin America on his old motorbike. For company he invites his friend, medical student, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna.

The eight month journey sees the pair have trouble after trouble with the bike but throughout the many towns they visit they experience hard ships of the people they encounter shaping them into the men of the world and laying the very foundations of the man we all know as Che Guevara.

This biographical film looks at the young life of Che Guevara. This story was taken from his own personal journals. If it wasnâ(TM)t for this trip 5 years previous of the Cuban Revolution Guevara would have remained in Buenos Aires and life could have been very different. Before this life enhancing trip he was a naive child with rose coloured glasses blinding his eyes. The suffering he witnessed made the man grow and want to fight for the right of the little man.

Director Walter Salles captured the authenticity of this story perfectly, Instead of what could be seen as some who have not seen the film as a road trip movie, he has captured one manâ(TM)s growth of empathy and spiritual awakening.

Gael Garcia Bernal as Che really brought this character to life, making the character his own bringing the story to life. He really made that connection with the character which drags you in. An outstanding performance.