Soderbergh does the unexpected and eschews any conventional biopic treatment or slick pastiche of 1960s counter cinema styles, in favour of a procedural treatment of Guevara’s two major campaigns, in Cuba and then in Bolivia.
There’s a whole lot of jungle combat but audiences expecting the highs and lows of heroism may be disappointed.
The film’s tour de force however is Benecio del Toro’s performance, winning him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival.He plays Che Guevara with great charisma and passion – it’s unlikely that there will ever be a better portrayal of the revolutionary on the cinema screen.
This four and a half hour epic is realised in stunning crisp digital images, and will be released in two parts (with different aspect ratios) on separate dates.