The Argentine/Guerilla

Che
2008. dir. Steven Soderbergh. 4 hours 18 minutes + intermission (or roughly 2 hours 9 minutes for each part if viewed separately)
starring Benicio Del Toro, Demian Bechir, Julia Ormond, Franka Potente, Lou Diamond Phillips

Steven Soderbergh's epic film Che is of an unusual nature; it is one complete film, and yet two very different films at the same time (Tarantino's Kill Bill might be an apt analogy). Aside from Benicio Del Toro as Ernesto Guevera, most characters only show up in one half or the other, and are of little interest anyway. The films are even different in the details, such as colour palate and camera techniques, and even nitty gritty things like different subtitles fonts and different aspect ratios.

The first film, commonly know as The Argentine, details Che's involvement with the Cuban revolution that led to Bastista's downfall in 1959, and Fidel Castro coming to power. The scenes, shot like a traditional Hollywood film with bright colours, and set dolly shots, are inter sped with grainy black and white footage depicting Che's visit to New York City and the UN in 1964. Che is shown joining Fidel's mercenaries and eventually rising to near the top of the command, culminating in the revolution's decisive victory in Santa Clara.

The second film (Guerilla) picks up 6 years later. There is nothing in either film showing Che's role in early post-revolution Cuba, or his campaigns in Venezuela or Congo, or even his ideologies or reasons for choosing his battles. The film just begins with Che, in disguise, entering Bolivia and trying to recreate his triumphs of Cuba in that country. Of course he fails, and the second film is much harsher and grittier. Gone is the fancy camera work and bright colours, replaced his entirely handheld shots amongst the grey and brown shrubbery of the Bolivian countryside. The film is very close to being almost black and white.

Which is, in a way, what Che was. Neither film is interested in his ideas, only in the active pursuit and implementation of that philosophy. There are no grand speeches really, just an almost documentary-like view of Che's military techniques (especially in the second film), and how the differences in the people of Cuba versus the Bolivians allowed Che to succeed in the former country, but not the latter. You can only lead people if they want to follow you. There isn't a lot of characterization of anyone other than Che, and even he is described through his actions, not his words (except for the brief NYC scenes).

I remain torn as to how I think Che should be viewed. I saw it all in one shot, but I'm sure it would work well viewed one half at a time. It may even work in the opposite order. Part One describes his rise, Part Two his fall. I'm sure which would teach us more.

5 stars.