The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD 2005)

In 1952, Alberto Granado and Ernesto Guevara “Fuser” de la Serna set out on an odyssey across Latin America to learn all about the America they lived with but failed to understand… For The Motorcycle Diaries, director Walter Salles drew on the journals of Granado and Guevara. Although the story is in a way the prequel to the mythology of the man who would be "Che", each man has a prominent role to play, and this is reflected in the excellent casting of Gael Garcia Bernal as Guevara and Rodrigo de la Serna. Bernal is perfect not only because he has great presence and matinee-idol looks, but because he carries a sense of gravitas. In the DVD interview, Bernal highlights Guevara’s irreverence, and yet it his extremely reverential, if aggressively youthful, performance that makes the film. This is particularly true when contrasted with de la Serna’s vivacious, vibrant and sly characterisation. With Granado himself a regular presence on set, it becomes clear in the extras that de la Serna has done an exceptional job.

Much credit for the success of this film must go to the scriptwriter, Jose Rivera; the simplicity and emotional clarity of the film is wonderful. It also made me laugh out loud a couple of times. Much of it is extremely touching, from the warm exchanges with patients on the San Pablo Leper Colony, to the painful process of Guevara leaving his young girlfriend behind. Add to that solid supporting performances and a gentle, episodic pace, and you have the foundations for excellence. There’s also breathtaking cinematography. It doesn’t take much to make the Andes look spectacular, but the long, indulgent tracking shots in all weathers are incredible. Beautiful, fog-bound shots crossing the vast waterways are rendered hauntingly. Machu Picchu is stunning, as ever. When all this is married to Salles’s fluid directorial style, it becomes almost more of a travelogue at times. Salles alternates between lingering tracking shots and judicious if dizzying use of handheld docu-cam filming. The final piece of the five-star puzzle is a cracking score. “Al Otro Lado del Rio”, which accompanies the film, is gorgeous and groundbreaking, the first ever Spanish-language song to win an Oscar.

Claiming to show the roots of Guevara’s thinking rather than the man he would become, the film still has heavy-handed moments. The learning experience sinks into Guevara in the most aesthetic way (black and white snapshot flashbacks), but his speech-making and grand gestures can be wearying. Having said that, the defining moment of the final act, where Guevara makes a dangerous gesture in a bid to show which side of the socio-political divide he chooses, is a wonderful, non-saccharine moment. At 120 mins this film flies by, and the 15 cert. is for strong language and the odd sexual reference.

The DVD is a goodly collection, including scene selection and trailers, an uninformative but sweet 10-minute featurette and Behind The Scenes feature. More interesting are the short interviews with the cast and crew (snippets, direct to camera, of responses to questions) including Salles, Bernal, de la Serna, and executive producer Robert Redford. Those directly involved speak more of the characters, personalities and real people than the process, whereas Redford cuts to the chase with a tale of film funding. A short but sweet interview with Alberto Granado tops off a generous package, possibly the best of which are the deleted scenes which are included.

Brilliant film, and extremely funny too. I can see where Ewan McGregor and his mate got their inspiration from. A masterpiece.

This movie is in spanish with english subtitles. It tells of 2 young Argentinian medical students who take a trip around South America, starting off on a motorbike, and their experiences and the people they meet on the way. Scenery (including Macchu Picchu) is great, acting is first class, music is catchy. A surprise is that one of the students went onto become the world famous political activist Che Guevera, but this movie concentrates on his mind development as he sees poverty and injustice along his travels. Don't expect bombs, action, violence etc. Worth watching.

GREAT ACTING GREAT DIRECTION GREAT CINEMATOGRAPY................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

cheap but perfectly watchable excellant value.My husband has wanted this film for a long time so he was really pleased when he saw this item for sale.

I wanted to read the book first but the dvd came first. Was worthwhile to watch. This movie is full of depth and heart and if this is your kind of thing then this is for you. I still feel that the book has a lot more than what was shown in the movie, and that is why I am still going to purchase it.

An excellent movie, with real characters, great wit, and stunning scenery. A must for all us travellers. Powerful and moving, it has inspired me to learn more about the characters and travel South America.

Having an interest in Guevara, I decided that I really should get around to watching The Motorcycle Diaries.I was n`t disappointed.
The film, my copy is subtitled in English and Chinese,is beautifully shot, written and acted. There are some heart-warming scenes, especially in the leper colony, and you can almost pinpoint the moment Guevara decided to dedicate himself to working towards a Pan-South American revolution.I strongly urge anyone with even a passing interest in the subject matter to get themselves a copy. They will be greatly rewarded.

A truly awe-inspiring film - highly recommended

Literally within days of first watching this film, I resigned from my job and resolved to go travelling around South America ;)

I saw this film when it came out and it reminded me so much of my own travels in South America that I bought it for a friend who travelled with me. The film is very evocative of the people and places and is a great story about human nature. I have read Che Guevara's diaries, on which it's based but I didn't find it a very good read. Film brings the book to life though and it's a fascinating insight to a formative period of a man who went on to be revered by millions. Apart from the brilliant performances, one of the film's major triumphs is the haunting music, which won a BAFTA.

I bought this DVD after going to Cuba in February. I bought the book of the same name whilst there & read it on my return. It was very interesting, but I'd heard so much about the film, I thought I'd watch that too. After quite a slow start, & adjusting to the subtitles, it became a fantastic look at the early life of the legendary Che Guevara. I was hooked! By the end, you got a real sense of the change that the journey had bought about in the man, & the feeling that this was exactly when his "Revolutionary Career" began in his heart & his head. I also loved the interviews in the extras with Alberto Granados. His loyalty for Che, even now, all these years on, beams out.
The work they both did at the leper colony, & how they treated the lepers as human beings..unlike the other doctors & nurses there....was inspiring. Overall, a very interesting look at the early life of one of history's greatest legends.

An extremely entertaining film which shows the reason why! Why Che became the icon that he did and how his passion for the people was moulded. The humour generated from his relationship with his good friend who accompanied him on the trip shows the man not just the reactionary that he is remembered as.

Awe inspiring early days of Che. As a young medical student he & his friend head out on a motorbike to see the world, this trip formed the basis of his reolutionary ideals. Must see truly brilliant

This dvd was a present for my partner as he has always thought of che as one of his hero's, we watched the film and although i normally hate subtitled films i really liked it and actually didnt even notice that i had to read to understand film. Great story, great film. We have now bought book of the real motorcycle diaries of ebay and its really good too! Comes highly recommended. Shame he met such a horrible end. But thats what seems to happen to people in history who think 'outside the box'.

THIS FILM WILL MOVE YOU AND MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING , FANTASTIC , AND NORMALLY I DON'T LIKE THIS SHITE, BUT WAS FORCED TO WATCH, AND AM VERY GLAD I DID