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The Revolution, Part One
Che: The Argentine, opens just in time for Benicio’s Oscar bow
Benicio Del Toro
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After showing for one week in both New York and Los Angeles, in order to qualify for the Oscars, the first half of Steven Soderbergh’s Che was welcomed by a spirited crowd in a special road-show-edition version—the entire four hours of the film—broken up by an intermission. The first half, The Argentine, will hit theaters and on-demand television nationwide first. After Oscar nominations are announced the second half, Guerrilla, will be released.
The movie is adapted from Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s own diaries. The first half follows him from his early days as a physician to meeting Fidel Castro to winning Cuba to announcing, “We have won the war, now we start the revolution.” Lush, colorful scenes of a vibrant Cuba are cut against black and white filmed sections where Benicio Del Toro’s Che is ushered around New York, making small talk with US politicians, giving interviews, and addressing leaders of other nations where he promises “homeland or death.” Don’t, however, start thinking that the film is entirely guerrilla warfare and the fight for revolution. Soderbergh achieves several moments of light, funny moments humanizing Guevara, who is often shown teaching his soldiers how to read and write.
The second half of the film, Guerrilla, follows Che after the victory of the Battle of Santa Clara, where he is left a public figure, cheered on by townspeople as they ask for his autograph. This section of the story follows him into hiding and then examines the failings of his soldiers that led to his capture.
Fidel Castro, introduced into the film from a side view, is often mentioned as eating lunch in a nice restaurant while Guevara is fighting in the wilds. Che is portrayed as having paid the ultimate price, after being encouraged to join the revolution by Castro.
Even when seen in its entirety, Che is so nicely shot and full of bravado that four hours goes by as quickly as a revolution.
The first half of the film opens in theaters in January.