Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Motorcycle Diaries





I saw this movie when it first hit the theaters in 2004, truthfully because there was little else to see at the time, and it has turned out to be one of my all-time favorites. I just watched it for the second time last night. Since seeing it in 2004 I have traveled to Peru and walked through many of the same places that are filmed in this movie-- further affirming my love for South America.

It's based on a true story of two Argentinian men, the older a biochemist named Alberto and the younger Ernesto, a 4th year medical student who is one semester from finishing medical school. They've planned a trip to drive an old motorcycle ("the Mighty One") from Argentina to Venezuala, arriving on Alberto's 30th birthday. The journey ends up being much more than either of them anticipate and ends up turning an introspective Ernesto into a revolutionary because of all of the injustices they're exposed to along the way. This culminates for Ernesto at a leper colony that they work within for 3 weeks near the end of their trip. Unfortunately, in seeking justice for the common man, Ernesto later in life is said to have become communistic. At any rate, it's a well-rounded movie--plenty of humor, beautiful South American scenery, interviews with indigenous Peruvians, and an overall attitude of 'let come what may' make this a movie well worth your time. Hey, perhaps you'll pick up some Spanish in the process--it's subtitled.