October 6, 2004
The Motorcycle Diaries
Went to watch The Motorcycle Diaries last night. Wished I could write more about it now, but I don't have the time. But it's a brilliant film. A must watch!
(Girls, if not for anything, go watch it for the very delectable Gael Garcia Bernal. He's sssooooo cute...I was sent to Droolsville. Seriously though, his looks are secondary to the film.)
Posted by DSD at October 6, 2004 9:47 AM
as usual, I have the soundtrack before even watching the film. And I'm enjoying it. interestingly enough, there's a minor controversy here about the film, or rather about Che himself. People say the film romanticizes his character despite the fact that he condoned and encouraged such chaos and violence in his nation. There's more to it than this but I don't have the opportunity to elaborate right now.
yup... hoping to catch it this week at the filmsociety screening... missed it at the filmhouse...
monoceros, do tell us more about the controversies!
monoceros: yeah, the soundtrack's really good. It really complements the film. I haven't read much about El Che himself, and I don't know the political history of Argentina, so i can't really comment on the controversies.
If by romanticising they mean the film makes him out to be a loverboy of sorts, maybe only just a little, but i don't think that's really worth quibbling about. He was after all, only 23 at that time, had a girlfriend he loved (but lost later), full of idealism, and a rather sheltered young man from a upper middle class Argentinian family. And if you get a bloody good-looking actor like Gael Garcia Bernal to play the character, it all the more adds to that romanticisation.
Perhaps he condoned the violence because he believed it a necessary evil in order to overthrow the bourgeois. In one scene, his friend Alberto painted this scenario of the natives uniting themselves and ruling the lands, then Ernesto says something like it's impossible to do that without guns.
but yeah, do tell us more. I think this film has many layers, and there's plenty of room for discussion. Fantastic film.
The beauty of the changing South American landscape is also another thing that really captivates the viewer. From the snowcapped Andes, to the open plains, the harsh desert, the Amazon, and there's also the Incan ruins! Man, it was beautiful!
And yep, do tell us more of the controversies if you have the time!
tiggie: Yes, tiggie, you'll have to catch it!