Chattanooga Pulse

Written by Phillip Johnson
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 16:24

This week’s selection in The Arts and Education Council’s Independent Film Series is certainly the largest offering the series has ever seen: both parts of Steven Soderbergh’s epic Che. Clocking in at a whopping 235 minutes, the film is a detailed, dedicated recounting of the famous revolutionary’s life and has broken more than a few cinematic conventions on its way to the silver screen.

Adapted directly from Guevara’s memoir Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War, Che Part 1: The Argentine begins in Havana where Guevara is interviewed by an American news correspondent who asks him questions about the Cuban Revolution. Flashbacks show Mexico City where Guevara first meets Fidel Castro and signs on to be a revolutionary, beginning his impassioned cries against American imperialism. Flash-forward to 1957 and the Battle of Santa Clara where Guevara succeeds and announces on his return to Havana that the war has been won, but the revolution just begun.

The film’s second part is entitled Guerilla and follows Guevara as he deals with sickness, dissention, and betrayal in his ranks. Some of his men desert the cause, allowing the base camp to be discovered by the Bolivian Army, resulting in American involvement. Terror ensues and the film follows Guevara until the end-his execution on October 9, 1967.

It’s odd that a movie of Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s life has been in the works for years but has never comes to fruition until now. Walking on city streets, you’re bound to see his face somewhere, printed on a T-shirt or emblazoned on the pouch of some 20-something’s backpack.