Ryan McNeil
One of the things I love about film festivals is the cinematic experiences that are unlikely to be repeated. It could be the selection of a rare overseas title that may never make it to North American cinemas. It could be listening to a film get discussed by the cast and crew in lengthy Q&A sessions. Or, it could be having the film presented in a way commercial cinemas never will – like today’s back-to-back screening of Steven Soderbergh’s two parts of CHE starring Benicio del Toro. How do i know the film won’t be presented this way in commercial cinemas? How do the words “Four hours, twenty minutes” strike you as an argument?
CHE’s story is divided into two chapters. THE ARGENTINE looks at his role in the Cuban revolution during the 60’s, where Fidel Castro led a band of rebels, including the Argentine-born Ernesto Guevara, in an attempt to overthrow President Batista from power. In this struggle he is a commandante, clearly a leader but clearly under the concise command of Castro. The second hour, GUERRILLA, looks at Che’s attempt to lead a revolution in Bolivia, where he led his own band of rebels deep into the Bolivian mountains attempting to spread the revolution deeper into South America.
While I loved both chapters, it’s easy to see that THE ARGENTINE will likely get the better reaction when it goes into wide release late this year. It’s a more conventional story, and one that effectively uses Che’s 1964 visit to the United Nations to drive the story. It’s an unconventional bio-pic, which avoids the temptation to romanticize or diefy Che’s role in history. Well written and amazingly well shot, it brings the story to a logical stopping point, and will appeal to the broadest base. Given the fact that Che has become more of a tee-shirt logo than a historical figure, such storytelling is no small feat!
After a God-sent twenty minute intermission, the second chapter, GUERRILLA, began to roll. This is the artier and heavier block of the story, one that spends many stretches seeming like a documentary. Scenes play out at arm’s length, and many scenes go by with our favorite revolutionary nowhere to be seen. This film won’t do as well in theatres, but still needs to be told. Guevara lead such a multi-faceted life, that to limit it to his involvement in The Cuban Revolution, or to try and cram it all into a 2.5 hour movie, is doing the story a great dis-service.
Both movies are a bit trying, but very rewarding. Neither of them are anything like what many people will expect going in. While I am admittedly biased as a big fan of Soderbergh, this four-plus hour morning at the movies was well worth the price of admission. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to cue up my dvd copy of THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES.
This was the final showing of CHE at TIFF 08 (and the only showing of the two parts together). Part One “THE ARGENTINE” will be release by IFC this Christmas, with Part Two “GUERRILLA” following next spring. Go see part one – use caution with part two.