The Motorcycle Diaries (R)

Subtly political biopic won't interest most teens.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
3
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Movie details
  • Studio: Focus Features, Focus Features
  • Directed By: Walter Salles
  • Cast: Gael García Bernal
  • Running Time: 128 minutes
  • Release Date: 09/24/2004
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 02/15/2005
  • Genre: Drama
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: language

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has some social drinking, strong language, and discussions of a sexual nature. This is a biopic of the early life of future Communist guerilla leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara, but impressionable youths aren't too likely to convert to Marxism solely by watching -- if they're interested at all (unless your kids have a deep interest in the subject already or love polishing up their Spanish-language skills, they probably won't have much interest).

Families can talk about Ernesto's values and idealism, and the adage "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Social drinking, one supporting character gets drunk.

Violence

None, except for a near-brawl, avoided by the fleeing heroes.

Sex

Nothing really shown, but much-discussed (including a heavily-coded negotiation with a prostitute).

Language

Some very raw language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Charles Cassady, Jr.

This leisurely drama follows a real-life 1952 road trip by two young men across South America. One of them, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, will later become a Communist revolutionary and Fidel Castro cohort nicknamed "Che." Ernesto (Gael Garcia Bernal) is a 23-year-old medical student from a privileged Buenos Aries background who joins pal Alberto (Rodrigo de la Serna) for a four-month tour of South America to celebrate Alberto's 30th birthday and give Ernesto some time with his girlfriend. They ride on Alberto's 1939 motorbike. In Chile the vehicle conks out for good, and Ernesto's girlfriend breaks up with him via letter. The pair now hike overland, finding shelter and trying to keep to their itinerary, which ends with a humanitarian visit to a leprosy clinic. There's no hokey stroke-of-lightning moment when Ernesto realizes his destiny, just little incidents in which the pair witness injustice, usually against the native Indians, the poor, or anyone opposing corporations or landowners. Alberto is mostly into scamming and chasing girls, but an epilogue explains that his trip with the future Che changed Alberto's life forever. (THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES is based closely on both Alberto's memoirs and Ernesto's journal.)

Is it any good?

3
The Motorcycle Diaries stars some of the top Latin-American actors and lists Robert Redford as the executive producer. For young viewers, however, unless they've got a deep interest in the subject already, or love polishing up their Spanish-language skills, this journey might seem longer than Frodo and Samwise walking to Mount Doom.

This is a very subtle, realistic film (Marxism and the United States are barely mentioned at all) compared to the hysterical propaganda pieces that came out of the former USSR, or even the USA. Indeed, if these were two fictional characters you'd think it was just a well-acted, rather shapeless road-movie about friendship and Latin America in the 1950s. We doubt impressionable youth will convert to Castroism solely by watching, without additional reinforcement, although the moviemakers certainly find Ernesto deeply admirable from the get-go. Unlike Alberto, Ernesto tells the truth even when it hurts, and shows innate compassion for the downtrodden. And who could argue with that? (Many Americans regard Che and his comrades as terrorists and critics of the movie have compared the Communists to the Nazis)

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

5


Posted on 12/03/07 by moviegeek Kid contributor, age 15

Excellent

I really enjoyed the movie and thought it was filmed very well. The only thing that was slightly annoying was the length. I don't know the exact length of the movie, but it felt like forever. Make sure you're sitting somewhere comfortable when you're watching it! Younger children probably wouldn't be interested.
4

Posted on 05/06/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Intresting

I watched this movie in my spanish class and thought it was really good. They do swear alot but since it is in spanish you can't tell unless you have the subtitles on. One scence is really grusome were they are opperating and taking a women's arm off (due to lepracy). Thats the only part I had to shy away from.
Age 8+
4


Posted on 08/25/05 by mediadiva Adult contributor

beautiful..

I felt like I toured through South America after watching just because of the filmography, however, it will probably bore kids who have no historical context or previous interest.
Age 11+
5


Posted on 02/19/05 by LGviking Adult contributor

VERY worthwhile

Most Americans know very little of Che Guevara. We took our 4 kids (10-14) to see Motorcycle Diaries. My only caution to parents is that the "f" word appears with frequency in the subtitles (the spoken language is Spanish) but these are two 20-something guys out on the trip of a lifetime around South America, on a really old ratty motorcycle which breaks down a lot (much of the swearing has to do with this!). Che and his companion witness the plight of the poor across the continent and you see how and why Che's growing outrage at the lack of social justice will lead him, after the conclusion of the film, to dedicate himself to changing the world and giving a voice to the downtrodden. Excellent, excellent, excellent, especially for young teens. Our 10 and 11 year old probably didn't get as much but it was still not a waste of time for them. We need to give our children more to think about than themselves. Take your children and enjoy!

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

Age 8+
4


Posted on 08/25/05 by mediadiva Adult contributor

beautiful..

I felt like I toured through South America after watching just because of the filmography, however, it will probably bore kids who have no historical context or previous interest.
Age 11+
5


Posted on 02/19/05 by LGviking Adult contributor

VERY worthwhile

Most Americans know very little of Che Guevara. We took our 4 kids (10-14) to see Motorcycle Diaries. My only caution to parents is that the "f" word appears with frequency in the subtitles (the spoken language is Spanish) but these are two 20-something guys out on the trip of a lifetime around South America, on a really old ratty motorcycle which breaks down a lot (much of the swearing has to do with this!). Che and his companion witness the plight of the poor across the continent and you see how and why Che's growing outrage at the lack of social justice will lead him, after the conclusion of the film, to dedicate himself to changing the world and giving a voice to the downtrodden. Excellent, excellent, excellent, especially for young teens. Our 10 and 11 year old probably didn't get as much but it was still not a waste of time for them. We need to give our children more to think about than themselves. Take your children and enjoy!

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 12/03/07 by moviegeek Kid contributor, age 15

Excellent

I really enjoyed the movie and thought it was filmed very well. The only thing that was slightly annoying was the length. I don't know the exact length of the movie, but it felt like forever. Make sure you're sitting somewhere comfortable when you're watching it! Younger children probably wouldn't be interested.
4

Posted on 05/06/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Intresting

I watched this movie in my spanish class and thought it was really good. They do swear alot but since it is in spanish you can't tell unless you have the subtitles on. One scence is really grusome were they are opperating and taking a women's arm off (due to lepracy). Thats the only part I had to shy away from.
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