"Eloquently and remarkably captures the budding ethical, emotional, and political sensibilities of a legendary man of history." Gabriel Shanks MIXED REVIEWS "I think it is beautifully shot, and the chemistry between these two young actors is terrific." Richard Roeper EBERT & ROEPER " Walter Salles and writer Jose Rivera have created a minor masterpiece." Eric Lurio GREENWICH VILLAGE GAZETTE "You get so caught up in the beauty of the images, and lost in the weathered faces found along the way, you quite forget that you're traveling with Che Guevara -- which is, of course, exactly what the original experience would be." Moira MacDonald SEATTLE TIMES "A beautifully wrought account of the dawning of the social conscience of one of the 20th century's most romanticized revolutionaries." Todd McCarthy VARIETY

"A mostly faithful, beautifully shot cinematic realization of the words that sprung from Guevara's mighty pen." Matt Kelemen LAS VEGAS CITYLIFE "A gorgeous, poetic and stirring epic." Lou Lumenick NEW YORK POST "Travelogue, biography, tender portrait of friendship -- the film is strong in all these areas, but excels in fusing them into an affecting whole." Alan Morrison EMPIRE MAGAZINE [UK] "Whether he's capturing the majesty of mountain passes, the awe-inspiring splendour of ancient cities or the souls of the people as registered on their weathered faces, Gautier draws the audience into each moment and emotion." Louis B Hobson JAM! MOVIES "Thoroughly entertaining and deeply moving--a vital historical document with something important to say." Rich Cline SHADOWS ON THE WALL

The Inside Story

"This movie will probably end up on a lot of critics' Top 10 lists, including mine, and deservedly so." ...... David Kaplan KAPLAN VS KAPLAN

"If I present you with an image and say, for instance, that it was taken at night, you can either believe me, or not; it matters little to me, since if you don’t happen to know the scene I’ve “photographed” in my notes, it will be hard for you to find an alternative to the truth I’m about to tell. But I’ll leave you now, with myself, the man I used to be." Ernesto Guevara de la Serna. There are just so many things going for Walter Salles's "The Motorcycle Diaries", so many good point screaming out to an audience, that one hardly knows where to start. Brilliant is the word the word that best describes this stunning story of two young men who undertake a 10,000 kilometre journey that will cement their friendship for life and lead them both to discover their purpose in life. The story contained within "The Motorcycle Diaries" is a fascinating one; the chemistry between its two stars always feels perfect; the soundtrack is a delight and captures the spirit of what is evolving on the screen so completely; and finally, there is ever contrasting beauty of the wonderful scenery depicted throughout their journey. This alone should be enough to make one want to jump on a plane and go exploring South America. Like most people, I have to admit that I know very little about South America. Well, except for what I, like so many others, have seen in numerous travel programmes or wildlife features on television. South America is not the first choice for many travellers who prefer the ease of exploring Europe and North America. I also must admit to knowing very little about the revolutionary leader, whose face has adourned millions of T-shirts, 'Ché' Guevara, but thanks to Salles's film "The Motorcycle Diaries" I now have an insight, in part, into who Ernesto Guevara was, before he lead the Cuban revolution. Salles says his film is a faithful recreation of that journey, undertaken in 1952 in part on Alberto Granado's Norton 500, nicknamed 'La Poderosa' or in English, 'The Mighty One'. It is not a documentary. "The Motorcycle Diaries is a film inspired by events that happened in 1952 in the life of Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado. It is not, therefore", explains director Walter Salles, "a documentary about that adventure. What it aims for is to retain the original spirit of the journey made on La Poderosa. Alberto and Ernesto’s trip was shaped by the encounters they had on the road, and I tried to keep this quality alive in the film." In that case, what is the story behind "The Motorcycle Diaries"? Sallas says it "is the story of two young men who leave on an adventurous journey throughout an unknown continent, and this journey of discovery becomes one of self-discovery as well. This is a film about the emotional and political elections we have to make in life. It’s also about friendship, about solidarity. Finally, it’s about finding one’s place in the world, one that is worth fighting for." So who were these two young men. One who comes from a wealthy family [and who will eventually become a revolutionary leader] and one who wil, after completing the journey from Buenos Aires to Venezuela, devote his life to medical science. "When The Motorcycle Diaries starts, Alberto is 29 and lives in Cordoba, Argentina," notes Salla. "He’s working at a local hospital and is somewhat uncomfortable with the way the patients are treated there. He’s been dreaming about this journey throughout Latin America for years and absolutely wants to do it before turning 30. He’s got a younger brother, Tomas, whose best friend is Ernesto Guevara, whom he’s going to invite to take the trip with him." And Ernesto? "Ernesto is 23 when they leave Buenos Aires in January 1952. He comes from an upper middle class family, but his curiosity and interests go way beyond the limits of his class. He’s well read, and he has traveled throughout Argentina on a bicycle on which he installed a small engine." And is it a fact that he suffered from Asthma? "His asthma has been a constant concern from a very young age, but he has learned to fight it," Sallas reveals. "He’s a medical student, and he’s not far from graduation when he opts to take the trip with Alberto." When it came to writing the screen story, you met many writers before you chose award-winning Puerto Rican playwright José Rivera for the task. What was it about José Rivera that convinced you he was right for the job? "José was the one who had the most discerning vision of what this screenplay should be", says Sallas. "What interested him was the humanization of such unique characters. This film is about eight months of these two young men’s lives, eight crucial months in which they were confronted with a reality that departed completely from the one they were used to in urban Argentina, a reality that asked them to make choices in life and ultimately decide which path they were going to take. José understood this from the start." And a lot of effort was put into researching this film, wasn't there? "Research took more than two years. José and I read all the biographies that had been written about Ernesto Guevara, including the one that was the most interesting to me, by the Mexican writer Paco Ignazio Taibo. I went to Cuba several times to meet with Alberto Granado, a young man of 82, and Ernesto Guevara’s family. The support of his widow, Aleida, and his children was very important for us to move forward." And is true that you and José travelled the path taken by the two young men? "We retraced the motorcycle journey and scouted extensively throughout Argentina, Chile and Peru: journeying in Patagonia, crossing the Andes and the Atacama Desert, entering the Amazon Basin, ultimately reaching the San Pablo leper colony, near Iquitos, Peru," Sallas said. Rivera says there were many changes in writing the story. "How do you even begin to approach an iconic figure like Ernesto Guevara? How do you humanize the myth? How do you honor the memory and serve history? How do you give his companion Alberto equal weight? How do you capture the inner geography of a boy turning into a man? How do you capture that flickering pre-1960s Latin America, poised, it seems, between centuries? How do you capture the mind-boggling variety of faces, temperaments, cultures, races and voices?" The answer is simple. As you have done so beautifully in "The Motorcycle Diaries". Casting About "THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES" stars .......
Silver Hugo and Marcello Mastroianni Award winner Gael García Bernal ["Amores Perros", "Y Tu Mama Tambien", "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" and "Bad Education"]; Mía Maestro ["Tango", "Timecode", "Hotel" and "Frida"]; Mercedes Morán ["I Never Been in Vienna", "The Swamp", "The Holy Girl" and "Moon of Avellaneda"]; Jean Pierre Noher ["There Are No Men Left", "Valentin", "Bahía mágica" and "El Jardín primitivo"]; Lucas Oro ["The Motorcycle Diaries"]; Marina Glezer ["Natural" and "Valentin"]; Sofia Bertolotto ["The Swamp" and "Moon of Avellaneda"]; Ricardo Díaz Mourelle ["Bajo tierra", "Apariencias", "Nine Queens" and "Taxi"]; Diego Giorzi ["The Motorcycle Diaries"]; Facundo Espinosa ["Dibu: La película" and "Callejeros"]; Susana Lanteri ["Let's Play in the World", "The Return of Martin Fierro", "Count to Ten " and "Assassination Tango"] and Rodrigo De la Serna ["Same Love, Same Rain", "Nuts For Love" and "Gallito Ciego"] as Alberto Granado. Crew Bytes "THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES" was .......
directed by Walter Salles ["Foreign Land", "Central Station" and "Behind The Sun"]; screenplay by TWO TIMES OBIE Award winner José Rivera ["Marisol", " Each Day Dies with Sleep", "The House of Ramon Iglesia" and "The Street of the Sun"]; edited by BAFTA Award winner Daniel Rezende ["City of God" (Cidade De Deus)]; director of photograhpy Eric Gautier ["Son Frere", "A Housekeeper", "Intimacy" and "Polar X"]; original music by Gustavo Santaolalla ["Amores Perros" and "21 Grams"] produced by Michael Nozik ["Quiz Show", "People I Know", "The Legend of Bagger Vance", "Beverly Hills" and "How to Kill Your Neighbor’s Dog"], Karen Tenkhoff ["Donnie Brasco", "The Horse Whisperer", "The Legend of Bagger Vance" and "The Clearing"], and Edgard Tenembaum ["The 92 minutes of Mr. Baum", "Late Marriage", "Errances" and "Gift From Heaven"]. The Executive Directors include Rebecca Yeldham ["Tishomingo Blues" and "Right As Rain"], Paul Webster ["The English Patient", "Welcome To Sarajevo", "Good Will Hunting", "Shakespeare In Love" and "Sexy Beast"] and Robert Redford ["Downhill Racer", "The Candidate", "The Electric Horseman", "All the President's Men" and "The Horse Whisperer"] What It's All About

"With beautiful cinematography, excellent acting and a wonderful story, this is one of the best films of the year." Stefan Halley HERO REALM

Two young men, a young medical student and a biochemist from Argentina, leave their family and friends behind to undertake a 10,000km trip across South America. At first it is just a grand adventure, spirited and full of fun. But before long, the two young men begin to see a face to the countryside they did not expect. That face is one of despair, poverty, displacement and oppression amongst the native South Americans they meet. Finally their journey takes them to a leper colony. It is the catalyst that brings a change to both Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado. It will influence young Ernesto to take up the challenge, to do something for the dispirited people of South America. Later, in Cuba, Ernesto will lead the revolution and the name Che Guevara will ring out around the world. The Verdict "There is so much beauty and a sense of adventure within "The Motorcycle Diaries" that it is times, as if one is living the great experience that created the revolutionary leader Ché Guevara. The story, drawn from two books gives great insight into the passions that eventually, at the leper colony in Peru, provide the catalyst that moulded a man and his spirit. Very Recommended" The Cast

Gael García Bernal Rodrigo De la Serna Mía Maestro Mercedes Morán Jean Pierre Noher Lucas Oro Marina Glezer Sofia Bertolotto Ricardo Díaz Mourelle Diego Giorzi Facundo Espinosa Susana Lanteri Fernando Llosa Marta Lubos Natalia Lobo Carlos Rivkin Elvio Suarez Jackelyne Vásquez Pablo Villarrazza Liliana Kolinsky Brandon Cruz Vilma M Verdejo Oscar Alegre

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Ernesto Guevara/Ché Guevara Alberto Granado Chichina Ferreyra Celia de la Serna Ernesto Guevara Lynch Roberto Guevara Celita Guevara Ana Maria Guevara Uncle Jorge Rodolfo Tomas Granado Aunt Rosana Von Puttkamer Schatzie von Puttkamer La Negra Horacio Ferreyra Uncle Martin Luz Esteban Aguirre Chichina's Mother Miner Miner's Wife Don Olate

The Crew Directed by Walter Salles Adapted from the book "Notas de viaje" by Ernesto Guevara Adapted from the book "Con el Che por America Latina" by Alberto Granado Screenplay by Jose Rivera Produced by Michael Nozik/Edgard Tenenbaum/Karen Tenkhoff Original Music by Gustavo Santaolalla Cinematography by Eric Gautier Film Editing by Daniel Rezende Casting by Walter Rippell Production Design by Carlos Conti Art Direction by Laurent Ott Costume Design by Beatriz De Benedetto & Marisa Urruti Production Manager Marcelo Torres Executive in charge of Production Peter McAleese Run Time 125 minutes Rated M15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2005 - Focus Features - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2005 - Impact Internet Services & The Movie Pages- All Rights Reserved