Genre:
Plot:
Argentine revolutionary Ernesto 'Che' Guevara (Benicio del Toro) travels to Bolivia to wage his final revolution.Viewed: 22/02/09
Score: 5/6
The second instalment in the saga of Che Guevara manages to surpass the high standard of the first film, which I was not expecting. Benicio del Toro dazzles with his acting ability yet again, and the support cast all help add the air of authenticity to the proceedings. Cinematography is excellent. Throughout, dialogue, events and even fire-fights are conducted in an understated way that only enhances their impact. From the get-go we are shown how the Bolivian 'revolution' was ill conceived, beset with mistakes and misfortune. Once Guevara and his band of revolutionaries had entered the country, they was no way out. Unable to convince the peasants to join the cause, recruit many new fighters or even secure the backing of the Bolivian Communist Party; the revolutionaries battle the vastly superior U.S. trained Bolivian Army. Until, inevitably, they are either killed, or captured then executed - as happened to Che Guevara. Viewers are left to decide for themselves whether he was a visionary and stuck to his beliefs no matter what, or just arrogant and not as good a guerrilla as history portrays him.
Was Che was noble and courageous like the film (based on his own memoirs) portrays? Only further research could prove, but I doubt he was. Certainly he believed the Marxist fallacy that revolution is inevitable.
No comments:
Post a Comment