This film, which tracks the journey of revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara through South America, is a subtle examination of revelation.
The story begins in 1952 when Guevara and a friend set off on a beaten up motorcycle to see the continent.
The pair leave from their native Buenos Aires, Argentina and set a course for Venezuela.
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They experience some adventures and many hard times along the way.
They make a good pair, like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and are able to charm their way into getting food and lodging.
A long stretch of the film deals with Guevara and his friend staying at a leper colony in Peru. They are welcomed because of their medical background.
The scenery in the movie is breathtaking, especially Machu Picchu in Peru.
The movie does a wonderful job of showing the poverty and injustice, especially in the Andean countries, faced by native Americans and mestizos.
The viewer sees Guevara's reaction as it slowly dawns on him that there is much suffering in the world. He slowly becomes radicalized or more sensitive (depending on your viewpoint) and follows his conscience.
"The Motorcycle Diaries" shows a young Guevara seven years before the Cuban revolution, which made him famous. It also reveals the honest, stubborn and compassionate man that he was.
It is a testament to the skill of director Walter Salles who does a fantastic job of showing how seeing the world can change a person's world view.
"The Motorcycle Diaries" is available on DVD.
Sean can be reached at: [email protected]
