Film a dazzling ride through South America
Julie Chautin Contributing writer

This Thursday at 6 p.m. the Murphy library is showing the 2004 film about a road trip the revolutionary Communist fighter Ernesto "Che" Guevara took in 1952 while he was still a medical student. Guevara later became Fidel Castro's right hand man in the Cuban Revolution. The music is so good it makes "Che" dance the mambo.

Award-winning Brazilian director Walter Salles (Central Station) based his film on diaries that both Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal) and his best friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) keep during the trip and later publish. Guevara had one more year of medical school and Granado was a biochemist wanting a memorable adventure before settling down. Theytook a long route for some fun with a final serious stop at a leper colony to do their residency.Their ancient motorcycle takes them from Argentina down through the southernmost points of Chile, then north through Peru, Venezuela and Colombia.

Guevara, does not often forget his serious side, but his buddy Granado is just happy to be on the road and even happier to find a dance floor. Argentinean composer Gustavo Santaolalla wrote the music. His work includes the soundtracks for Babel and Brokeback Mountain.

Robert Redford was executive producer of this story that will be shown in Spanish with subtitles. Call the library for the name of the film at 837- 2417. Our public performance license does not permit advertisement of the movie title to the general public.