The first time I heard that Steven Soderbergh helm this film is a surprise. I mean, is this the guy who deliver crowd pleasing Ocean’s trilogy? What would he do with a biopic about a guy whose face printed in T-Shirt around the world? It turns out to be, this so called two part epic is very satisfying, that is, if you have read Che Guavara’s biography. If you haven’t read it nor have no clue who he is, this film is confusing. There is no explanation to why and how Che could achieve things or who Fidel is. So for ‘beginners’, they should watch Walter Salles’s Motorcycle Diaries first and at least read something about this bearded guy.
He is a medical doctor, fluent in French, brilliant military tacticians and a revolutionary. Not many people could master that in one breath. Do not expect some romanticized or over the top presentation of Che in this film like most Hollywod films do to most biopics. Soderbergh manages to deliver Che in a quiet and fragmented way. Audience gets the feeling that Che is a man who truly believes in his ideals and willing to sacrifice his personal pleasure, even his very existence to defend those he never met. Surely this is not a crowd pleaser, first there’s the 4 hour plus duration, second; it is 90% in Spanish and third, it is certainly for those who had previous knowledge about Che.
First part is The Argentine, depicting Che's leadership in jungle and town fighting that led up to the ousting of Fulgencio Batista in the late 50's, and the second is Guerrilla, Che's failed effort nearly a decade later in Bolivia to spearhead another revolution that led to Guevara's execution in 1967. The first chapter has interval of black and white Che's speech at the United Nations in 1964; the second chapter is claustrophobic jungle warfare. What lacks from this film is his controversial side of Che or even his personal life, so for those who hate Che, this film is a major disappointment and I didn’t understand why Soderbergh left out the part Che went to Congo and Europe even the Bay of Pigs event. Will be directing some mid quel for this important part of Che’s life? I hope he make that since it will be a complete trilogy with The Motorcycle Diaries as an addition. As predicted, Benicio Del Toro gives a mesmerizing depiction of Che, and the fact he speak Spanish add the realism.
Now if you remember that famous picture taken by Korda which could speak a thousand words, being a symbol of fighting against imperialism and oppression, this film doesn’t even re-create that moment, thus avoiding a cliché. In conclusion, this is an interesting and satisfying film.
He is a medical doctor, fluent in French, brilliant military tacticians and a revolutionary. Not many people could master that in one breath. Do not expect some romanticized or over the top presentation of Che in this film like most Hollywod films do to most biopics. Soderbergh manages to deliver Che in a quiet and fragmented way. Audience gets the feeling that Che is a man who truly believes in his ideals and willing to sacrifice his personal pleasure, even his very existence to defend those he never met. Surely this is not a crowd pleaser, first there’s the 4 hour plus duration, second; it is 90% in Spanish and third, it is certainly for those who had previous knowledge about Che.
First part is The Argentine, depicting Che's leadership in jungle and town fighting that led up to the ousting of Fulgencio Batista in the late 50's, and the second is Guerrilla, Che's failed effort nearly a decade later in Bolivia to spearhead another revolution that led to Guevara's execution in 1967. The first chapter has interval of black and white Che's speech at the United Nations in 1964; the second chapter is claustrophobic jungle warfare. What lacks from this film is his controversial side of Che or even his personal life, so for those who hate Che, this film is a major disappointment and I didn’t understand why Soderbergh left out the part Che went to Congo and Europe even the Bay of Pigs event. Will be directing some mid quel for this important part of Che’s life? I hope he make that since it will be a complete trilogy with The Motorcycle Diaries as an addition. As predicted, Benicio Del Toro gives a mesmerizing depiction of Che, and the fact he speak Spanish add the realism.
Now if you remember that famous picture taken by Korda which could speak a thousand words, being a symbol of fighting against imperialism and oppression, this film doesn’t even re-create that moment, thus avoiding a cliché. In conclusion, this is an interesting and satisfying film.
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