Che: Part One

aka: The Argentine
USA 2008, 134 minutes
Dir. Steven Soderbergh
In English, Spanish with English subtitles
Rating: [M]
Genres: Drama / History

Topics: Politics.

Feat. Benicio Del Toro, Julia Ormond, Rodrigo Santoro, Demian Bichir, Édgar Ramírez, Catalina Sandino Moreno

Aroview: An epic undertaking by dir. Steven Soderbergh, this two part resurrection of the Che Guevara legend (played charismatically by Benicio del Toro) attempts to bypass the myth of the iconic revolutionary, scrupulously examining the history and context behind his feats through an exhilarating brand of guerrilla filmmaking.

Part One, alternating between the Cuban campaign and Guevara’s 1964 visit to the United Nations, compulsively observes the build-up to the revolution led by Fidel Castro, culminating in a thrilling climax. Though subdued in terms of addressing the politics and ideology of Che’s motives, this is the most exciting and action-packed of the film’s two halves.

NZ International Film Festival 2009