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He’s a legendary revolutionary; the subject of what the Maryland Institute of Art called “the most famous photograph in the world” — and now, Benicio del Toro. Ernesto “Che” Guevara, one of the most memorable figures of the 20th century, gets epic treatment in director Steven Soderbergh’s sprawling, two-part film about the Argentinean guerrilla’s life.
"The Argentine" is based on Che’s memoirs of his battle to overthrow the Cuban dictator Batista. Part two, "Guerrilla," uses the information in his diaries to portray Che’s time in the jungles of Bolivia, at the end of his life. In keeping with Che’s status as a symbol of counterculture and youthful rebellion, the director and star spoke to an audience that included Meiji University students during their recent visit to Japan.
Soderbergh said his goal was “to show the combination of the man of intellect and the man of action.” He chose to use different styles of filming to represent the two contrasting periods in the revolutionary’s life. Puerto Rican star Del Toro, 41, added that they tried to approach the movie as truthfully as possible, “like Che would have, if he had been a filmmaker.”
He said his biggest challenge was taking on the role of an actual person. When asked what he had in common with Che, the actor joked, “Four and a half hours.” His self-deprecating manner aside, del Toro’s incredibly realistic portrayal has been drawing considerable buzz from critics and audiences alike.
What would Che think of the film if he were alive today? “I hope he would have other, better things to do than watch our movie,” Soderbergh quipped. He and del Toro spoke with the students about activism and the messages they want audiences to take away from the film. Del Toro said he hopes the movie will “spark something — an interest, at least in history.”
Both men reminded students of the need to speak out for change. Soderbergh added, “It’s not enough just to be against something; you have to be for something, as well.” One student asked del Toro if he had ever caused a revolution. The actor laughed and responded, “There are many different kinds of revolutions. When I became an actor — if you ask my parents, that was a revolution.”
This story originally appeared in Metropolis magazine (www.metropolis.co.jp).
© Japan Today
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lazarus0202
Del Toro is an Maerican of Puerto Rican descent.
lazarus0202
whoops AMERICAN
CaptainHarlock
Correction: Del Toro is Puerto Rican period. Puerto Rico is a small Caribbean island protectorate of the USA.
But its citizens (Puerto Ricans) are not allowed to vote on US elections. For all other purposes, their government structure, currency, federal police, budget and laws are all American.
But Puerto Ricans aren't born US citizens. They must opt later in life. They are all born Puerto Ricans!
Plase anyone correct me if I'm wrong.
wuzzademcrat
Guevara is dead, so is the Stalinist revolution he imagined killing hundreds of people (some as young as fourteen) would actually bring about. Anyone wearing a t-shirt with the image of 'Che' on it is either pig ignorant or is himself a little totalitarian loser.
CaptainHarlock
Wuzzademcrat.... Che Guevara's revolution was NOT Stalinist! You need to study history before making this type of comments about people's tastes in T-shirts.... The Cuban revolution was Marxist! Not Leninist.
And I bet you already seen the movie anyhow....
wuzzademcrat
Che Guevara, in his own words:
"Crazy with fury I will stain my rifle red while slaughtering any enemy that falls in my hands! My nostrils dilate while savoring the acrid odor of gunpowder and blood. With the deaths of my enemies I prepare my being for the sacred fight and join the triumphant proletariat with a bestial howl!"
"We don't need proof to execute a man. We only need proof that it's necessary to execute him. A revolutionary must become a cold killing machine motivated by pure hate."
"He went into convulsions for a while and was finally still. Now his belongings were mine."
"I'd like to confess, papa', at that moment I discovered that I really like killing."
CaptainHarlock
FOR a person like you claiming that "Anyone wearing a t-shirt with the image of 'Che' on it is either pig ignorant or is himself a little totalitarian loser" YOU seem to know far too much and too well the life and times of CHE.... It seems that you are practically in love with Ernesto Che Guevara!
m5c32
Well, at least he's not ignorant about the subject, now is he? Anyhow, many of people who wear Mr guevara's likeness are either idealists (and are ignorant of some of the realities of their "hero"), want to feel popular with some of the more liberal students or are hipsters and wannabe hipsters (kind like jackasses with a dollop of charver). On the other hand, he had lucid moments where he spoke truthfully about injustice; it's just that in many cases, he went about it quite wrong. At least the T-shirt cos. keep on merchandizing --which is kind of ironic, given the marxismus of their progenitor. The che is dead; long live the Che Tees!