Motorcycle Diaries

               Motorcycle Diaries was a very beautiful film, although technical difficulties hindered the viewing for a majority of the film. I believe that this is one of my favorite movies that we have screened. During the expedition on Ernesto and Alberto, there are many encounters with other individuals in which I believe shaped Ernesto into becoming a future leader. Although their main purpose of the 8,000 kilometer trip seemed to be fun and exploration, they encounter the poverty of many indigenous peasants. In Chile, the pleasure travelers encounter a couple forced onto the road because of their communist beliefs. The pair also followed a couple to the mine and Ernesto become angry when he witnessed how the workers were being treated. While in Peru volunteering for three weeks at a colony, the pair witnessed the extreme division in society. These are only a few examples from the movie, but these encounters with social injustice are what transformed Ernesto’s view of the world.

                There were a few similarities and differences between the celebration viewed in this film and transitions in the United States. During Ernesto’s birthday party, the most noticeable difference was the fact that so many people gathered to celebrate his birthday, despite the fact that he had only been around for a matter of weeks. The food, cake, and dancing were present during the celebration is similar to that of a celebration in the United States.