The Motorcycle Diaries [DVD] [2004]

such a unique movie: the story, the visuals, the atmosphere, the acting. I saw it several times and every time it gives me a feeling of nostalgia for a world I never visited and that yet feels familiar and close to my heart.

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara is a medical student still living with his mother, father and siblings in their home in Buenos Aires when this story begins. At vacation time, he and his friend embark on a journey by motorcycle across South America. What to the friend is a laugh, a riot and a chance to get laid, to Ernesto is a sequence of situations through which his understanding of his people, their hopes and aspirations, their struggles and triumphs, is brought to maturity. The elements of what were to become 'the international revolutionary' are so understated as to appear magical. Their frequent, friendly contacts with the ordinary people they meet along the way culminate in their reception as voluntary helpers at a Leprosy Hospital. The relationships that develop here are poignant and extremely moving and the viewer can only wish these two young men well as they progress towards the start of their respective careers. This of course is the supreme irony, considered against the way things really went for Che Guevara, first as companion to Castro in the revolutionary overthrow of the corrupt Salazar regime in Cuba, and finally his ignominious, yet tragic demise while still a young man at the hands of the Bolivian military.

This 2004 adventure drama spans from December 1951 to August 1952 as Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara de la Serna and his older friend Alberto Granado attempt to travel Latin America on a temperamental old Norton 500cc motorbike.Taking information from ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ and other sources, this does a good job as an entertaining drama and the 2 hour length passes as though just one. However, events are taken out of sequence, characters amalgamated, events shifted onto others or changed for effect and politics is heavily placed. The main issue is the film shows heavy involvement with the ‘indigenous’ population, the reality of the diary shows the opposite that for the most part he was very disparaging of them and they barely communicated and those who did were usually skilled or professionals. Where this is good is that it brings out the tensions between the travellers, something that the diaries tries to hide.After an advert for ‘film 4’ the single disc goes to main menu offering play, scene index and extras [deleted scenes, cast & crew interviews, featurette, behind the scenes, Alberto Granado interview, trailer]. The three minute interview with Alberto is worth watching. Rated 15 this has a lot of swearing and some adult sexual references but there is generally little else to really offend. My advice, watch this as a movie for entertainment, but, if you want to learn about Che, read the diary as in that he exhibits many ‘reactionary’ tendencies, not those of the revolutionary icon he became.

Excellent travelogue style film of the "early pre: pre:revolutionary days of the icon figure we now know as "Che Guevara". In this film he is "Ernesto" a young idealist medical student travelling through South America with his companion Albert Salgado. Wonderful humanity and empathy shown throughout the film particularly when working in a leper colony. Beautifully filmed on location the film contains much humor & vices a wonderful taste of life on the road. Highly recommended film.Great Seller & value buy.

This film documents the road trip that Ernesto Guevera and his friend Alberto Granado went on in 1952 that would change both their lives. At the start of the film we see a youthful Doctor on a trip of adventure, by the end we see a revolutionary in the early stages as they witness the poverty and disregard for the poor and ill throughout South America.It's a story about Che Guevara that hasn't been told before. There are only little hints towards the outcome throughout the film, it succeeds in showing another side to the man who would later become an icon. There is even some unexpected humour.The film is very well written, the two leads are brilliantly portrayed and the direction is beautifully paced. This is a real intelligent road trip drama.5 Stars. Essential viewing.

well made, well acted, extremely interesting

I bought this on a whim - because I like travelogues - and was not disappointed. Firstly, as a travel film, it tells the story of two Argentinian medical students taking the trip of a lifetime, a grand tour of South America on a Norton 500, in 1952. The fact that one of these students was Ernesto "Che" Guevara, and the poverty, inequality and disease that he witnessed travelling all around the continent formed a significant part of his revolutionary thinking, makes this story all the more poignant.A genuinely worthwhile story to know, beautifully and artfully filmed.

This film played well and is easy to watch on Amazon Prime. It is an enjoyable film and interesting story overall. The depiction of Ernesto Guevara's budding maturation into a young man considering means of revolt against dictatorships in South America is engaging and moving. The way that the film weaves in his medical training, when he encounters people suffering from illness on his journey and his painful struggles with asthma is touching. Further, the parallels that are drawn between leprosy, his areas of medical specialism, and social injustice more generally are clever. However, there are not enough strong female characters and voices in this film. The depiction of Alberto as a womaniser, intent on sleeping with an many women as possible during his journey across South America, is disappointing and narrow. Overall, I would recommend this film.

Absolutely love this movie.

LA CAJA LLEGÓ ROTA Y LA PELÍCULA NO PERMITE DESACTIVAR LOS SUBTÍTULOS EN INGLÉS. TUVIMOS QUE VER TODA LA PELÍCULA CON SUBTÍTULOS.

Fantastic film. Great cinematography .

久々にいい映画を観た。前半はやや冗長で、後半がやや巻き巻き(先を急ぐ)感じはあったが‥もっと若い時代に出会いたかった映画。

Would not play in Australia. Why send it to an Australian?