Diarios de motocicleta (2004)

Director:

Walter Salles

Writers (WGA):

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara (book)
Alberto Granado (book)
(more)

Release Date:

24 September 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama

Tagline:

Before he changed the world the world changed him

Plot:

The dramatization of a motorcycle road trip Che Guevara went on in his youth that showed him his life's calling.

Plot Keywords:

Voyage Of Discovery | Mountains | Buddy | On The Road | Che Guevara

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 26 wins & 37 nominations

Cast

Gael García Bernal	...	Ernesto Guevara de la Serna (Argentina)
Rodrigo De la Serna	...	Alberto Granado (Argentina)
Mercedes Morán	...	Celia de la Serna (Argentina)
Jean Pierre Noher	...	Ernesto Guevara Lynch (Argentina) (as Jean-Pierre Noher)
Lucas Oro	...	Roberto Guevara (Argentina)
Marina Glezer	...	Celita Guevara (Argentina)
Sofia Bertolotto	...	Ana María Guevara (Argentina) (as Sofía Bertolotto)
Franco Solazzi	...	Juan Martín Guevara (Argentina)
Ricardo Díaz Mourelle	...	Uncle Jorge (Argentina) (as Ricardo Diaz Mourelle)
Sergio Boris	...	Young Traveler (Argentina)
Daniel Cargieman	...	Young Traveler (Argentina) (as Daniel Kargieman)
Diego Giorzi	...	Rodolfo (Argentina)
Facundo Espinosa	...	Tomás Granado (Argentina)
Matias Gomez	...	Kid (Argentina) (as Matías Gómez)
Diego Treu	...	Kid (Argentina)
Ariel Verdun	...	Kid (Argentina) (as Ariel Verdún)
Mía Maestro	...	Chichina (Argentina)
Gustavo Mansilla	...	Kid (Argentina)
Susana Lanteri	...	Aunt Rosana (Argentina)
Natalia Lobo	...	La Negra (Argentina)
Maida Andrenacci	...	Chichina's Friend (Argentina) (as Maída Andrenacci)
Bárbara Lombardo	...	Chichina's Friend (Argentina)
Dana Frijoli	...	Chichina's Friend (Argentina)
Valeria Echeverria	...	Chichina's Friend (Argentina) (as Valeria Echeverría)
Ariel Prieto	...	Chichina's Friend (Argentina)
Matías Strafe	...	Chichina's Friend (Argentina)
Nicolas Watson	...	Chichina's Friend (Argentina) (as Nicolás Watson)
Carlos Rivkin	...	Horacio Ferreyra (Argentina)
Elvio Suarez	...	Uncle Martín (Argentina) (as Elvio Suárez)
Pablo Villarrazza	...	Esteban Aguirre (Argentina)
Liliana Kolinsky	...	Chichina's Mother (Argentina)
Guillermo Ojeda	...	Men with Oxen Cart (Argentina)
Oscar Alegre	...	Don Olate (Argentina)
Fernando Llosa	...	Von Puttkamer (Argentina) (as Fernando Ignacio Llosa)
Marta Lubos	...	Schatzie von Puttkamer (Argentina)
Cristián Chaparro	...	Luna (Chile) (as Cristian F. Chaparro)
Cristian Arancibia	...	Tulio (Chile)
Gabriela Aguilera	...	Piedad (Chile)
Juan Maliqueo	...	Araucano Father (Chile)
Samuel Cifuentes	...	Araucano Son (Chile)
Constanza B. Majluf	...	Chilean Sister (Chile)
Evelyn Ibarra	...	Chilean Sister (Chile)
Victor Hugo Ogaz	...	Young Man (Chile) (as Víctor Hugo Ogaz)
Fernando Farías	...	Fire Chief (Chile) (as Fernando Farias)
Maximiliano Toledo	...	Ca±aco (Chile)
César López	...	Fireman (Chile) (as César Lopez)
Pablo Macaya	...	Janitor (Chile)
Rosa Curihuentro	...	Doña Rosa (Chile)
Erto Pantoja	...	Mechanic (Chile)
Vladimir Paredes	...	Truck Driver (Chile)
Brandon Cruz	...	Miner (Chile)
Vilma M. Verdejo	...	Miner's Wife (Chile)
Jaime Azócar	...	Mine Foreman (Chile) (as Jaime Azocar)
Maria Esther Zamora	...	Chipi Chipi Band Singer (Chile) (as María Esther Zamora)
Pollito Gonzalez	...	Chipi Chipi Band Pianist (Chile)
Jorge Lobos	...	Chipi Chipi Band Percussionist / Trumpeter (Chile)
Cuti Aste	...	Chipi Chipi Band Clarinetist / Accordionist (Chile)
Roberto Lindl	...	Chipi Chipi Band Double Bass Player (Chile)
Gustavo Morales	...	Félix (Peru)
Gustavo Bueno	...	Dr. Hugo Pesce (Peru)
Maria Beatriz Abele	...	Zdenka Pesce (Peru) (as María Beatriz Abele)
Jonathan Balbis	...	Luis Pesce (Peru)
Matias Delgado Rizzi	...	Tito Pesce (Peru) (as Matías Delgado Rizzi)
Jorge Rodríguez Paz	...	Peruvian from Canepa (Peru)
Jackelyne Vásquez	...	Luz (Peru)
Ernesto Cabrejos	...	Card Player (Peru)
Víctor Ángeles	...	Card Player (Peru)
Willy Gutiérrez	...	Card Player (Peru)
Gerald Mayeux	...	Card Player (Peru)
Matías Gomez	...	Card Player (Peru)
Jorge Chiarella	...	Dr. Bresciani (Peru)
Ricardo Velásquez	...	Banca (Peru)
Carolina Infante	...	Sister Margarita (Peru)
Nidia Bermejo	...	Young Indian Nurse (Peru)
Carlos 'Caitro' Soto de la Colina	...	Papa Carlito (Peru)
Delfina Paredes	...	Mother Sister Alberto (Peru)
Nemesio Reyes	...	Leper from San Pablo (Peru)
Hernan Herrera	...	Leper from San Pablo (Peru) (as Hernán Herrera)
Antonella Costa	...	Silvia (Peru)
Igor Calvo	...	Dr. Souza Lima (Peru)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alberto Granado	...	Himself (uncredited)
Gustavo Pastorini	...	Passenger (uncredited)

Directed by
Walter Salles

Writing credits (WGA)
Ernesto 'Che' Guevara		(book "Notas de viaje") (as Ernesto Guevara)
Alberto Granado		(book "Con el Che por America Latina")
Jose Rivera		(screenplay)

Produced by
Daniel Burman	....	co-producer
Diego Dubcovsky	....	co-producer
Mónica Lima	....	assistant producer
Michael Nozik	....	producer
Robert Redford	....	executive producer
Edgard Tenenbaum	....	producer
Karen Tenkhoff	....	producer
Paul Webster	....	executive producer
Rebecca Yeldham	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gustavo Santaolalla

Cinematography by
Eric Gautier

Film Editing by
Daniel Rezende

Casting by
Walter Rippell

Production Design by
Carlos Conti

Art Direction by
Coca Oderigo
Laurent Ott
Maria Eugenia Sueiro

Set Decoration by
Carlos Conti

Costume Design by
Beatriz De Benedetto
Marisa Urruti

Makeup Department
Marisa Amenta	....	makeup artist
Karina Arbulú	....	assistant makeup artist: Peru
Katerine Astete	....	key makeup artist
Esther Barbieri	....	assistant hair stylist
Laura Borselli	....	special makeup effects artist
Jana Carboni	....	special makeup effects artist
Araceli Farace	....	assistant makeup artist
Ariel Godoy	....	assistant hair stylist
Sebastián Molchasky	....	special makeup effects artist
Marisol Ortega	....	assistant hair stylist
Jean-Jacques Puchu	....	key hair stylist (as Jean-Jacques Puchu Lapeyrade)
Laura Quijandría	....	assistant makeup artist: Peru
Norma Recalde	....	assistant hair stylist
Juan A. Redondo	....	special makeup effects artist
Juan Angel Redondo	....	special makeup effects artist
Luigi Rocchetti	....	special makeup effects artist
Alejandro Staricco	....	assistant hair stylist
Juan Pedro Rodriguez Valiente	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Ricardo Avelluto	....	unit manager
Carlo Bettin	....	production supervisor
Raúl Campos	....	unit manager
Peter McAleese	....	executive in charge of production
Federico Noejovich	....	location unit manager
Severo Santos	....	assistant production manager
Graham Stumpf	....	post-production supervisor
Marcelo Torres	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Federico Berón	....	second assistant director
Márcia Faria	....	first assistant director
Claudio Leiva	....	second assistant director
Samuel León	....	assistant director
Pablo Ramos	....	director help
Claudio Reiter	....	assistant director
Sara Rossi	....	assistant director
Julia Solomonoff	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Fernanda Abadía	....	painter
Lorena Acin	....	scenic painter
Alvear Angelica	....	set dresser
Silvina Carballo	....	assistant production designer
Martín Libert	....	property master
Matías Martínez	....	assistant production designer
Daniel Mauvignier	....	painter
Alejandro Gastón Mondello	....	assistant property master
Ariel Guillermo Mondello	....	assistant property master
Jorge Mondello	....	property master
Julio Ojeda	....	assistant property master
Ana Piaggio	....	graphic designer
Estella Zeballos	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Bryan Arenas	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Javier Bennassar	....	sound editor
Jean-Claude Brisson	....	sound
Colin Cooper	....	adr recordist
Gary Coppola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jed M. Dodge	....	dialogue editor
Frank Gaeta	....	sound designer
Frank Gaeta	....	supervising sound editor
Lauro Galindo	....	adr recordist
Patrick Giraudi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Catherine Harper	....	foley artist
Terry Isted	....	adr recordist
Andrea Lakin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Patricio A. Libenson	....	foley supervisor (as Patricio Libenson)
Leandro Lima	....	sound
Christopher Moriana	....	foley artist
Todd Niesen	....	dialogue denoising
Todd Orr	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Romero	....	boom operator
Christopher Sidor	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Chris Sidor)
Victor Alejandro Tendler	....	sound assistant
Dennis Twitty	....	foley editor

Special Effects by
Georges Demétrau	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Adam Stern	....	digital artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Enrique Apéstegui	....	electrician: Peru
Alejandro Arbulú	....	electrician: Peru
Pablo Baião	....	second assistant camera: Peru
Alberto Bellezia	....	second assistant camera: Peru
Rubén Carpio	....	electrician: Peru
Anibal Cattaneo	....	grip
Aníbal Haran	....	electrician
John Rockwell Harris	....	additional still photographer
Rafael Mackay Fulle	....	grip
Flavio Naranjo	....	grip
Constanza Ott	....	first assistant camera
Paula Prandini	....	still photographer
Dennis Ramírez	....	grip
Rodolfo Resch	....	electrician
Agustín Roca	....	electrician
Sergio Scalisi	....	gaffer
Cristian Vega	....	assistant camera: second unit, Argentina
Peter Zuccarini	....	water camera operator

Casting Department
Norma Angeleri	....	extras casting
Pablo Pérez Giménez	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gabriela Bellacomo	....	costume assistant
Fátima Macera	....	costume assistant (as María Fátima Macera)
Carmen Montecalvo	....	costume assistant
Ramiro Piombo	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Luis Bernardez	....	post-production coordinator
Gilbert Carreras	....	film color timer
Isabelle Julien	....	color timer
Maria Montoreano	....	second editor
Fabien Pascal	....	color timer
Miguel Sverdfinger	....	assistant editor (as Miguel Schverdfinger)
Patrick Thauvin	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Robb Boyd	....	music editor (as Robert Boyd)
Anibal Kerpel	....	music editor
Stephen Lotwis	....	music editor
Lee Scott	....	music editor: temp tracking

Transportation Department
Sergio Miguel	....	unit transportation coordinator

Other crew
Patricia Apter	....	production coordinator
Kim Ballard	....	production financing
Susan Bradley	....	title designer
Paul Cafferty	....	post-production accountant
Emma Chapman	....	unit publicist
Dante Deccheco	....	production assistant
Nicky Earnshaw	....	assistant: Peter McAleese
José Luis García Espina	....	location manager
María Gowland	....	script supervisor
Leo Haidar	....	legal counsel
Bill Holderman	....	assistant to producer
Donna Kail	....	assistant: Mr. Redford
María Paula Mancini	....	assistant production accountant
Gianni Minà	....	creative consultant
Alexander Nicolas	....	marketing
Sebastián Ponce	....	assistant to producer
John H. Price	....	interviews: post-production
Joe Russo	....	interviews: post-production
Paola Scagnet	....	accounting assistant
Ettore Scola	....	creative consultant
Mauro Stecco	....	production apprentice
Alistair Thompson	....	supervising production accountant
Fernando Wajs	....	production accountant
Connie Wethington	....	assistant: Michael Nozik
Brad Simonsen	....	production executive (uncredited)

Thanks
Tessa Ross	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• FilmFour
• South Fork Pictures
• Tu Vas Voir Productions
• BD Cine
• Inca Films S.A.
• Sahara Films
• Senator Film Produktion GmbH
• Sound for Film

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• BIM Distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Diaphana Films (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Golden Scene (2004) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Golden Village (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Herald Film Company (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Highlight Film (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Monopole-Pathé (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Pandasia Entertainment (2005) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Fx Stunt Team

Other Companies

• Alfa Vision S.r.l.  lighting equipment
• Monkeyland Audio  post-production sound
• Sound Satisfaction  foley recording facilities
• Susan Bradley Film Design  title design
• Title House Digital  titles
• UMG Soundtracks  soundtrack released by
• Widget Post Production  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

Carnets de voyage (France)
Reise des jungen Che, Die (Germany)
The Motorcycle Diaries (USA)
Voyage à motocyclette (France) (festival title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

Argentina | USA | Cuba | Germany | Mexico | UK | Chile | Peru | France

Language:

Quechua | Spanish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Hungary:14 | Iceland:L | Taiwan:R-12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Canada:G (Québec) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-7 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Norway:11 | Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Argentina

Company:

FilmFour

Trivia:

The motorcycle used by the real life pair was a British-made Norton International, which had a 500cc single cylinder engine. The director revealed that they found, restored and used such Nortons except for the crash scenes where modern Suzukis were made up to look like Nortons and christened "Nortsukis". The director revealed that whereas the old Nortons were unfailingly reliable, the modern Suzukis were forever breaking down.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At the end of the movie, when Che is at the airport, a yellow GMC pickup drives by. The pickup has a 1-piece windshield; GMC did not introduce the 1-piece windshield until a few years after 1952).

Quotes:

Ernesto Guevara de la Serna: How is it possible to feel nostalgia for a world I never knew?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#18.1)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Qué Rico El Mambo

Humanism, Awareness, Coming of Age: The Soul of Revolution

THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES is certainly one of the finest films of the year - a daring, compassionate re-creation of the journey of two young, well-to-do Argentinean lads who leave their privileged positions of biochemist and fourth year Medical student to follow their idea of traveling by motorcycle from their native Buenos Aires down to Patagonia, up through Chile, Peru, Colombia to Venezuela. Sounds like a light hearted Trip Movie, but instead this journey, factually made by one Ernesto (aka 'Che' and 'Fuser') Guevara de la Serna and his close friend Alberto Granado ('Chubby'), is one of the most touching and sensitive passages into self acceptance and awareness of the world as a place where equality of people is a microscopic speck of illusion that is revealed by a carefully constructed script by Jose Rivera based on the diaries of both of these men made during and after their journey. Walter Salles ("Behind the Sun", "Central Station") once again proves himself a director who can infuse his vision of a story with uncomplicated directness of approach, having the sensitivity to allow his well-chosen actors to create wholly believable, three-dimensional characters, whether the actors are the leads or simply minor roles that hold the camera's eye for seconds.

Taken as simply a movie to enjoy, THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES is as beautiful as a National Geographic Magazine feature on the Amazon and the deserted and populated lands of South America. But given his re-creation of Che Guevara's and Alberto Granado's meaningful excursion into manhood this movie goes far beyond entertainment and enters that rarefied arena of psycho biography. Traveling on an old motorcycle, the two lads encounter hunger, accidents, lusting after women at every stop, ingratiating panhandling, and the gradual revelation of the quality of life of the indigenous peoples of South America. They are touched by the plights of the people, the people in turn love the boys, and they eventually spend three weeks living and working in a leprosarium run by the nuns, adding their knowledge of medicine to helping not only the physical needs of the lepers but finding ways to break the psychosocial ostracism that historically curses the 'unclean'. Breaking down these barriers, forming strong relationships with those tending the lepers as well as the lepers themselves, lays the seeds of 'revolution' or Change in the minds of the lads, especially Ernesto or 'Che'. The film does not begin to preach or to make the Che Guevara of Cuban militancy fame a hero: it doesn't have to, as the transformation in the mind of Che is so beautifully subtle. The journey has given him the insight that he must devote himself to changing the inequality and poverty of his America. The events that followed this Motorcycle journey are provided in voice over, black and white footage of people's faces, and a final scene in Havana at the ending of the film. No more need be said.

Gael Garcia Bernal gives an incredibly thoughtful, stunning portrayal of Che, saying so much more with his eyes, his body language (especially as he suffers through his own physical demon of asthma attacks), and his perfect embodiment of the spirit of a man who becomes enlightened by the peasants he comes to love. Bernal is already a brilliant actor and a magnetic screen presence, and if he is not nominated for an Oscar for this unique, artful role it will be a major surprise. His is a career to watch! Likewise Rodrigo de la Serna is completely immersed in his role as Alberto and shows the same quality of quiet growth as a character as the movie progresses. ALL of the many extras in this huge cast are memorable: the leper colony abounds with some of the most touching human beings ever captured on film. The camera work, the musical scoring, the obvious commitment on the part of everyone involved in this glorious picture - every aspect of THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES is exactly right. Ten Stars for this one! In Spanish with English subtitles