Movie Review: Che Guevara Parts One and Two

[lampie1970]

OK, so...Travis sings about Che, I saw the Motorcycle Diaries...but i am ignorant when it comes to politics, truly (!! DO NOT DISAGREE!!)...so I've heard of him, but you know, didn't know a lot...So, like all good best friends, Tiff continues to try to enlighten me about politics and civil rights and points of view that I may not immediately identify with.

She was even reluctant to ask me to with her for the 5 hour two parter. In most theaters, they do break them up, so you can see one part at one time and the second part at another if you wish. But i like the way we did it. The theater was an awesome one too, tiff and I both remember being there when it was a club, so it was a little nostalgic remembering being in our early twenties and you know, enjoying Depeche Mode in the darkened theater that now serves pizza, beer, wine...pretty cool atmosphere to relax in for 5 hours...anyway, i digress...

As ya'll probably know, Ernesto Che Guevara was an Argentinian that met Fidel Castro in Mexico and later joined his movement in Cuba to overthrow the then president Batista. Then years later, tried to do the same service for the oppressed peasants in Bolivia. Now, realize i am reducing into a few sentences here years of organizing and training and personal sacrifice to achieve something these men believed in.

The first part of the whole, focuses on this time in Cuba and then the few years after where Che was somewhat of a celebrity in the U.S. and Europe and beyond.

The second part is about Bolivia, and sort of how Che's "celebrity" got in the way of making a difference there. There was a larger political machine at work, and he was unwelcome by some, and targeted by others. It truly shows the struggles of sacrificing all for what you believe in even when you have little support, fighting yourself and your own physical limitations, and the "romance" of it all, and why Guevara has become a symbol to people everywhere of standing up for what you believe in, even if you're the only one.

Guevara as an individual, even without the politics, is an extremely interesting individual. he wrote daily, enjoyed the literary classics and poetry, spoke multiple languages....and you know...he was very cute :)

it gets 4.5 shakes :D