CHE: PART ONE is an enjoyable history lesson detailing the rise and rise of Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevara, following his early years as he hooks up with brothers Raul and Fidel Castro and sets about engaging in a guerrilla warfare in Cuba. The direction by Steven Soderbergh is understated, the director preferring to have this feel almost like a documentary, following the rebels on their path to success.
The raw, cinema verite style is this story's strongest asset, that and the fact that Benedicio del Toro feels like he was born to play the role. Despite the lengthy running time, the story holds the attention, and the frequent battle scenes are very well handled and believable. The only part I didn't like was the constant cutting away to dull, black and white scenes of exposition with Guevara being interviewed in later years; they should have let the straightforward storytelling speak for itself.
The raw, cinema verite style is this story's strongest asset, that and the fact that Benedicio del Toro feels like he was born to play the role. Despite the lengthy running time, the story holds the attention, and the frequent battle scenes are very well handled and believable. The only part I didn't like was the constant cutting away to dull, black and white scenes of exposition with Guevara being interviewed in later years; they should have let the straightforward storytelling speak for itself.