Soderbergh's 'Guerilla' brings Guevara to life

    "Che: Part Two — Guerrilla" (2008) is both the second half of Steven Soderbergh's four-and-a-half-hour epic about Ernesto "Che" Guevara and a unique film that stands on its own and speaks for itself.
    The film picks up slightly after the events of "Che: Part One  —The Argentine" (2008) and follows Guevara, once again portrayed by Benicio Del Toro, from his exploits in Bolivia through his capture and execution. The story of Guevara in Bolivia is not as well-known as that of his time in Cuba, but it is just as controversial.
    Making a film about Che Guevara, an extremely polarizing figure, is potentially dangerous. Making two films about him could be considered lunacy, but somehow Soderbergh has avoided this pitfall. The film explores the actual events of Che's life with little embellishment and only slips into reverence, falling for the popular cult of Che, once or twice.
    At the beginning of "Guerrilla," Guevara arrives in Bolivia to assist in starting an armed struggle to liberate the peasants who he feels are forced to work and live in less than ideal conditions. After his rise to notoriety during the events of the Cuban Revolution, Che has to disguise himself in order to get into Bolivia, entering under the guise of a diplomatic figure.
    Once in Bolivia, Guevara, first under the name Ramon and later Fernando, sets up a militant rebel force. He trains volunteers, and as they travel the country they attempt to gain the trust of some of the Bolivians, helping the peasants as much as they can with medical and monetary problems. All of the good will in the world, however,  does little to cover the fact that Guevara is very obviously an outsider whom the natives will never trust.
    "Guerilla" is presented in a different film aspect ratio and done in a different film format than "The Argentine." Generally, it has a more stripped-down feel. The majority of the film is done with handheld cameras, without the use of cranes or dollies. Where "The Argentine" is more or less a Hollywood affair with intricate sets and much exposition, "Guerilla" takes place mostly in the rainforest and in small peasant villages, and the action moves fairly quickly.
    The level of violence in "Guerilla" is shocking at times, mainly because the characters who are so often shot and killed actually feel like real people. Whether or not the audience relates to the cause or sympathizes with the fighters is irrelevant. One might feel nothing when Che is killed, but when a peasant teenager, driven to join the rebel forces by the situation in his hometown, dies in battle it is a saddening event.
    Soderbergh, Del Toro and scriptwriters Peter Buchman and Benjamin A. van der Veen have done an extremely thorough job researching Che, and it shows. Though there are many characters to keep track of, the film seldom gets confusing. All of the supporting characters are played by virtually unknown actors, save for a puzzling cameo by none other than Matt Damon as a local religious figure. But thankfully, the unknowns manage to keep up with Del Toro who shines in the title role.
    The Che Guevara of "Guerilla" is older and somewhat weaker than he is during his time in Cuba. His hair and beard have grown into a wild mane around his face, bringing to mind classical representations of Don Quixote, who, much like Che, was driven on a seemingly insane quest. Also, Che's asthma constantly plagues him. As Del Toro wheezes and gasps through asthma attacks, the audience may feel short of breath themselves. It is a truly inspired performance.
    One does not need to be educated about Guevara's life and battles to appreciate the artistry that has gone into the making of this film. He is not celebrated, not mourned, or put on a pedestal and proselytized about; rather, he is put in his environment and observed. As director Oliver Hirschbiegel brought the idea of Hitler to something of a flesh-and-blood understanding in 2004's "Downfall," so Soderbergh does here with Ernesto "Che" Guevara, and this, certainly, viewers can appreciate.