Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) by Lisa J — 27 May 2008

A look at the early years in the life of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, the radical idealist who led parts of the Cuban Revolution, 'The Motorcycle Diaries' is a poignant and interesting tale charting a road trip he and his best friend, Alberto, took in 1952 - the one that supposedly caused him to change his outlook on the world.

Like most on-the-road films this picture has an episodic narrative that begins as we would expect, but eventually tumbles onto more socially sensitive ground of inequality, poverty and isolation. It moves from the comfortable to uneasy; from convention to innovation.

Gael Garcia Bernal delivers an oustanding performance as the young student, gently embodying innocence and excitement at the beginning of the film and portraying an unearthing of understanding with sensitivity and realism.

The director's stance is mostly observation, but he uses a montage of those in need of help to ensure the audience realise the harsh honesty of such suffering; the shots are moving images, but could just have easily been photos - instead we understand the director means to illustrate that such poverty is in the present, not the past.

Still, such a heavy message never stifles the joys we previously encounter; the mischief of picking up girls in bars, the rows, tribulations and fun the boys share on a year's long journey. Although the eponymous bike fails to grace the screen for the duration of the film, it is easy to see the friends' journey as a homage rather than a failure - the bike is almost a friend whom they lost, yet must finish for, resulting in this engaging picture overlaid with beautiful cinematography and authentic music.

'The Motorcycle Diaries' is funny and charming, but has an extra layer of meaning to lend depth and resonance; despite exposing such a harrowing world it remains a testament to youth, and dreams.

You don't have to have knowledge of or agree with Che's politics to enjoy this journey - it's often emotional and turbulent, not quite straightforward, but well worth the ride.