The Motorcycle Diaries- Che, eh?

One reason I love watching foreign films is because of the high ratio of quality films to poor films. Simple law of averages: Hollywood produces 99% of all films a domestic fan would see (not the real stat, but it's a healthy estimate), which means the average fan is exposed to more poor films. When a foreign film is good enough to earn an American release, it's generally the best film of that country. Hence, we never get to see the poor films from other countries. That's why I love foreign films, I'm only ever exposed to the good stuff.
The Motorcycle Diaries is the story of a pair of young, educated and ultimately naive students who decided to travel through South America on motorcycle. They have unique personalities but share one common trait: the desire to do good. This trait is tested when they witness the plight of the poor and sick of Latin America. The experience shapes both their lives. The Motorcycle Diaries is a beautiful film. The cinematography hints at a true passion for the subject material. It comes across that those who worked on the film had a great understanding for the places and people of the story. It's a very genuine film in this regard. The acting is superb, featuring what was a breakout performance for Gael Garcia Bernal as a pre-revolutionist Che Gueverra. He plays the role with a natural ease that is in stark contrast to the method style of American cinema. Perhaps that is what I loved most about this film; it's daring, it's true to it's subject material, and is not a Hollywood story of inspiration but one of self-exploration.
Films are powerful in the respect that one rarely comes across one that truly changes a viewer. For those who have experienced this, it is hard to describe to someone who hasn't. Without trying to sound pretentious, the result is like being rewired. One feels different after wards but still the same. The Motorcycle Diaries is less of a must-see as it is a requirement for film lovers.