The True Story of Che Guevara
by Maria Wye Berry
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DVD details
Director: Maria Wye BerryBrand: A and E Home Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 91 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-09-23
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E Home Video
Product features:
- Featuring interviews with Che s wives, children, and comrades, as well as with the CIA agents and Bolivian officers who hunted him down, HISTORY? paints an intimate portrait of one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION Rating: NR Age: 733961134582 UPC: 733961134582 Manufacturer No: AAAE134580
DVD Reviews of The True Story of Che Guevara
DVD Review: Fair Enough
Summary: 4 Stars
I often view western productions regarding the life of any self-proclaimed socialist/Marxist/anarchist with a great deal of skepticism. The same skepticism I would have if I were in Cuba today with a book about Milton Friedman. However, I believe this documentary gave a relatively balanced look into the life of the world's most famous icon.
The documentary is primarily narrated by one of the greatest authorities on the history of Che, author of "Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life", John Lee Anderson. Much time is also given to Felix Rodriguez, the CIA operative who interrogated and carried out orders to execute Che. In one of the best parts of the documentary, American teens who were in Cuba at the time and joined Castro's rebel force, speak on their experiences during and after the revolution. References to Americans assisting in the Cuban revolution are normally quite obscure.
The documentaries greatest success is that is forces you to think regardless of how you personally feel about the man. The tendency when exploring the life of Che is to make him a mini-Castro who posses few thoughts of his own outside of Fidel's authoritarian vision (Fidel's supposed socialism is also called into question). No such perspective is given here. Che is presented as a vocal opponent of both the USSR and subsequently the Cuban Communist Party. He's portrayed as a humanist and completely selfless, commonly sacrificing his one free day of the week to volunteer with the peasantry. Militarily Che is also portrayed as being quite the leader during the Cuban revolution.
Conversely the more controversial moments of Che's history are not neglected. Che's summary executions of traitors is explored on several occasions. Post-revolution when Che began to clash with the Cuban/Soviet leadership, Fidel appointed Guevara head of the "la cabana prison" in an attempt to put Che in a less visible role. As head of a prison where war criminals were tried, Che sentenced hundreds to death and quite possibly personally executed some of those found guilty. The notion that some of those killed were innocent is also mentioned.
This documentary truly gives a total depiction of Che's life. Personal history, political ideologies, and testimony from supporters and opponents alike give it a legitimacy few productions have when exploring such a controversial figure. Unfortunately, the documentary's balanced perspective fell apart in the last several minutes of the film for me. Che is deemed as a failure by two of the narrators. After millions have have flocked to the man's ideas and replicated his passion I'm quite sure that's not an objective assessment. His military campaign in Bolivia is certainly questionable (I'm sure Che himself would chalk it up as a failure) and the countless amounts of slave-labor made Che shirts I'm sure has him rolling in his grave. However, the Cuban revolution and the countless movements in Che's name that would proceed his death I'm sure he would smile upon gladly. Furthermore, capitalism and oppressive states have never ceased to come under fire and quite frequently Che's image and message's are those used in anti-capitalist movements, inspiring generation after generation. Of course criticisms still exist of said movements as well as Che's Marxist ideology but, such is the world of politics.
Overall I would definitely recommend to all interested in a fairly-balanced exploration of the man.
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