The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

I just happened to see this movie because I thought it was another buddy travelogue showing Latin America. To my surprise, I didn't realize it was a biopic about Ernesto Guevara, who becomes known as Che Guevara later, until the last scene showed the statement of his execution and the real travel pictures of him and his friend. 

I was very impressed. The movie was basically amusing, and I felt that Ernesto was extraordinary and nice enough to make friends with. I sensed from time to time that this movie was not shallow and made me think about injustice and inequality in society. And I started to think, "What IS this movie?" It gives clues as to how and why Che Guevara had transformed into a Marxist revolutionary; he became a new man because of the encounters with poor peasants he had on the journey. 

At Machu Picchu, Ernesto feels that it's plausible to unite Latin Americans regardless of the national boundaries and race. 

Ernesto looks out the window at the river that separates clinic people from lepers both literally and metaphorically. He ponders over the division and finally on the last night of his stay he swims across the river despite his asthma in order to spend the night with the alienated patients.   

Ernesto was so sensitive and compassionate that he couldn't turn his back on the truth and miserable people's tragedy. The journey transformed the way a young mind had thought and shaped up a philosophy he would die for. What on earth are the encounters with various cultures we go through on our journey? I feel really sorry for the loss.

LET THE WORLD CHANGE YOU
AND YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD