Magical journey of discovery

The Motorcycle Diaries is the true-life tale of a young Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, who embarks upon a trip of Latin America in 1952 with his friend Alberto Granado, to discover the 'real' country. Through doing so, the two men undergo a seismic change in their attitudes, maturity and ethics, and the first seeds of political awakening are sown in young Ernesto. Sounds worthy and dry as anything, doesn't it? But it's not — and instead is an exquisite tale, packed with as much warm comedy and skylarking as it is social commentary.

Taking the role of 23-year-old Che is arthouse actor du jour, Gael Garcia Bernal. Coming hot on the heels of his turn in Bad Education, it's impossible to underestimate the potency and talent of this Mexican star. His expressionful, handsome face, limpid eyes and querulous, full lips are as mesmerising onscreen as his incredibly naturalistic portrayal of this confident, educated middle-class man. His travelling partner is Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna), a chubby biochemist, with an irresistible twinkle in his eyes and excitable plans to bed as many women as they can before completing their trip on his 30th birthday.

Of course, setting off on Granado's clapped out 1939 Norton 500 motorcycle, they run into trouble almost immediately, with little money and inclement weather impeding their progress. But their considerable mutual charm and ability to worm favours out of people means they get on. They bicker and fight like an old married couple, but there is a tangible, enchanting affection between the two men as they make their way.

They continue on a more or less light-hearted expedition, exploring all climates from the lush, verdant hills of Peru to the dusty Chilean desert. It is there they meet an impoverished couple, dispossessed for their political beliefs, and they begin to see a very different Latin America to their urban Argentinean upbringing. Their journey ends at a leper colony in San Pablo, where the transformation each man has undergone becomes acutely apparent, their lives and perspectives changed forever.

Guevara is possessed of an unflinching honesty and almost involuntary mechanism to say what he thinks, despite the rules of social convention. It is through this personality trait that we begin to see the passionate sense of injustice that led him to become the legendary revolutionary. But this isn't about what he was to become. It's as much about the wonderful, true friendship between Guevara and Granado, and a young man's startling journey of discovery. See it now.

The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios De Motocicleta)
Cert: 15