WALTER SALLES

Bil’s rating (out of 5):    BBBB.  Argentina/USA/United Kingdom/Germany/Mexico/Chile/Peru/France, 2004.  FilmFour, Wildwood Enterprises, Tu Vas Voir Productions, BD Cine, Inca Films S.A., Sahara Films, Senator Film Produktion, Sound for Film.  Screenplay by Jose Rivera,  based on the books Notas De Viaje by Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, Con El Che Por America Latina by Alberto Granado.  Cinematography by Eric Gautier.  Produced by Michael Nozik, Edgard Tenenbaum, Karen Tenkhoff.  Music by Gustavo Santaolalla.  Production Design by Carlos Conti.  Costume Design by Beatriz De Benedetto, Marisa Urruti.  Film Editing by Daniel Rezende.  Academy Awards 2004.  Cannes Film Festival 2004.  Golden Globe Awards 2004.  Independent Spirit Awards 2004.  Toronto International Film Festival 2004.  

One semester shy of completing medical school, 23 year-old Ernesto de la Serna, later to be known as revolutionary leader Che Guevara, sets off on a journey across South America with his best friend Alberto Granado. The two of them (both played brilliantly by Gael Garcia Bernal as Guevara and Rodrigo De la Serna as Granado) plan to travel from Buenos Aires up the west coast of South America all the way to Caracas, to get a personal view of this continent that they love so much but of which they know so little.  The youthful folly of running wild turns into a heartrending experience of understanding the oppression and poverty that the citizens of Latin America live in, and the seeds of revolution are sown in the newly christened Che’s mind (the name comes from the citizens of Peru teasing Argentinians about their using thatexpression). Walter Salles has created another cinematic gem, a moving and sometimes chilling road movie that gets right into the emotions of its main characters and allows the audience to feel everything from their perspective. Bernal adds another exceptional performance to his resume, and de la Serna makes a terrific breakthrough. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience.