Nearly forty years after Che Guevara's execution in Bolivia, director
Steven Soderbergh retraces the life of the iconic Cuban revolutionary across the span of two feature-length films -
The Argentine and
Guerilla.
The Argentine opens on November 26, 1956, as Fidel Castro (Demian Bichir) sails into Cuban waters with eighty rebels in tow. Among those rebels is Argentine doctor Ernesto "Che" Guevara (Benicio DelToro), a man who shares Castro's dream of overthrowing corrupt dictator Fulgencio Batista. As the struggle gets underway, Guevara proves an indispensable part of the revolution due to his firm grasp on the concepts of guerilla warfare. Guevara is heartily embraced by both his comrades and the Cuban people, and quickly rises through the ranks to become first a commander, and ultimately a revolutionary hero. Part two of the saga,
Guerilla, begins with Guevara at the absolute peak of his fame and power. Disappearing suddenly, Guevara subsequently resurfaces in Bolivia to organize a modest group of Cuban comrades and Bolivian recruits in preparation for the Latin American Revolution. But while the Bolivian campaign would ultimately fail, the tenacity, sacrifice, and idealism displayed by Guevara during this period would make him a symbol of heroism to followers around the world. Though
The Argentine and
Guerilla were screened together at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, they were set to be released separately in U.S. theaters later that same year. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide