Forty-two years ago today, Ernesto “Che” Guevara was shot in the village of La Higuera in the mountains of Bolivia after he was caught by the Bolivian government and the CIA. To those people who have no idea of Che and yet continuously wear that famous portrait of his face in their fashionable shirt, allow me to share some insights on the man they called “the True Revolutionary”.
This is not another boring-to-death lesson like what we had imagine our history class was during our schooldays. Instead, this is an independent review of sorts of the biographical film, which has received critical acclaim since it was presented in 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
The film, directed by Steven Soderbergh, was produced by Laura Bickford and its lead star Benicio Del Toro, who portrayed the revolutionary leader himself. The biopic depicts Che’s revolutionary involvement in the successful Cuban Revolution until his tragic assassination in Bolivia. This was supposed to be a single 5-hour film highlighting his exploits within both Latin American revolutions, plus some partial interviews and his speech at the United Nations. Instead, it was split into two parts.
PART 1 – The Argentine
The first part of the movie depicted Che’s involvement in the Cuban Revolution. From the famous dinner/meeting with Fidel Castro in Mexico, to that journey in that overloaded (almost like in terms of ratio but not as tragic as MV Doña Paz) boat Granma, to the mountains of Sierra Maestra were Fidel, Raul, and the Cubans discovered his ruthlessness as well as his intelligence. It showed how an outsider like him were able to instill discipline and single-mindedness to a person who is in the forefront of a revolution, his health struggles, the racial barrier (he was often called Argentine instead of comrade), as well as the compassionate traits this doctor had that the Cuban common people had learned to loved throughout the years. Part 1 also highlighted some of the revolution's key points, including the Battle of Santa Clara which turned the tide in favor of Castro and Che. It also depicted one of his dark sides, where he executed one revolutionary for committing a very heinous crime to the Cuban people that has always supported them throughout war against US-backed Cuban president Fulgencio Batista. The film ends as Che leads the revolutionaries to Havana to meet Fidel Castro and the thousands of Cuban supporters that ended Batista’s dictatorship.
One unforgettable highlight of the film is near the end where one of his comrades shouted something like they can go home now since they already won the revolution. Che answered back with words like "we only won the war, the revolution starts now". Watch out also his speech at the U.N. where the words “Patria o muerte!(Homeland or death)” were exclaimed.
PART 2 – The Guerilla
After the success of the Cuban Revolution and the Cuban were slowly reaping the benefits of the government that Fidel Castro has dreamed of for the Cuban citizens, Che disappears from Cuba and re-emerges in the mountains of Bolivia to start his dream of a Latin American revolution. Hiding within the mountains with assumed names together with some Cuban comrades and some Bolivian recruits, he tried to enlist the people of Bolivia to the revolution but was unsuccessful enough for the Bolivians were not very much cooperative to the revolution unlike the Cuban people. Due to the lack of arms, funds, medicines, and support from the poor Bolivian that he wants to emancipate, he was captured at the Yuro ravine when his troops encountered the Bolivian army. He was later brought to the nearby village of La Higuera, and was shortly executed and his body mockingly displayed.
Part 2 tells of the sacrifices, idealism, Che’s unparalleled guerilla warfare experience, as well as the failures which brought him to his untimely death.
Throughout the whole film, it is believed that Steven Soderbergh and the producers, including Del Toro, would help us come to understand how and why Che remains a symbol idealism and heroism, that lives in the hearts of the people around the world, and as well as a murderer in the eyes of those spiteful and with limited understanding to all idealists and sees them as a threat to worldwide capitalism.
Overall, the movie promises a very good account from historical facts that happened during those tumultuous times, including superb production of re-enactment of historical events. Personally, I love the country side shots that were reminiscent of the Cuban revolution more than 50 years ago. The natural lighting that was most used on the film depicted the environment was good, including the simplest and the complicated scenarios expected in the any jungle warfare. The Spanish setting of the towns, buildings, roads, and even the train was superb and had complimented the film's depiction of Che and his comrades. Del Toro's acting and make-up was excellent that sometimes it is even hard to differentiate the actor from the real Che Guevara.
To every idealist, this movie is a must-see and a must collect, along with another Che Guevara biopic, The Motorcycle Diaries which starred Gael Garcia Bernal. To every fashion victim who wears the Che shirt proudly, this movie will help you learn information on who is that famous guy on your shirt. This film maybe boring in terms of Hollywood Blockbuster Standards, but most history books are somewhat dictated by whoever dictates their country’s economy. Expect the critics to criticize the movie as bad as they can, since the movie followed the historical facts and not those overblown blood and action-hungry scripts moviegoers would love to see.
As Che had said during his final moments that he is only a man and the revolution shall not die with him, I agree that this film will relieve the revolution as the world should have seen it sans the prejudicial violence and racial slurs, and the idealism that Che has imparted will forever inspire those who want a better world to live.
Viva El Comandante! Viva Revolucion!
