Finally sat down and watched the motorcycle diaries. This won’t be much of a movie review, because I wanted to love it so much that I did indeed love it.
The critics and my dear scholarly masseuse, who let me borrow the dvd, all say it’s a weak film. It’s “too pretty” and “lacking in substance” they say. But you see, I believe this film was made for me. I don’t love Ch?, but I absolutely love Ernesto Guevara de la Serna. I have read his diary, his writing, and what others have written about him. Over and Over. I eat it for dinner… I actually believe (im dillusional) I understand his feelings and thoughts. I even imagine the parallels in my own life.
You see Ernesto wasn’t much of a worker. He was a curious one… a passionate one. He was so polite and so caring for complete strangers… that’s how I often feel.
The film does make it all beautiful, and it tries a little to hard to make him seem like a soon-to-be revolutionary, but it also depicts the sadness and the sense of frustration that common people no doubt felt towards the conditions they lived in. I found myself absolutely fascinated when he and Grenado enter the heart of South America, Cuzco. The deep respect for the Incas and the longing for the return of that civilization that kept such a strong quality of life.
It’s hard to talk about Ernesto because of the pop culture. It’s hard to talk about Ch? because of all the nonsense and pre-judging. But fuck that, my concern isn’t for tshirts or a symbolic icon, my interest lies in the story of a guy I can relate to. Who wanted to see the world, and alleviate the most basic injustices. Who cared more about others than himself.
Maybe later he become obsessed and self-absorbed. Maybe he lost some of that curiosity and compassion. I suppose life is funny that way, the way it can change you over time. The most peaceful and open-minded youth can become a vengeful hatemonger in his old age. But that’s not how I see Ernesto… for me he died long before that CIA trained firing squad, but he kept that dedication to strangers til the very end.. which I admire greatly.
Bad movie? Not for me. Fucking great movie. Plus the music is sweet and they drink lots of mat?, just as I do. Hopefully I will take that same journey someday, minus the motorcycle.
Unrelated, but a great read — the xtx is a poet and a half. And Viva la Podcast do their underrated/overrated band of the year list.
Today’s Sounds: Coheed & Cambria – Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth
It’s a truely amazing thing… the size of this world and the way lives intersect. Me and JB grew up in the same neighborhood, both of Portuguese families, his house was even designed mediterranean style, with tiled roof and gloriously white on the outside. This, of course, triggered the baptism of his house by our other friends as “Taco Bell.” 
AudioCommuniqu? #7 Soundseeing Vondelpark (mp3)
While I go rough it in the lap of luxury, I’ve been watching Iraqi’s vote in make-shift booths with m16’s all around them. I keep forgetting who’s protecting who from who. Nothings says democracy like tanks in the streets and guns in your face. And man do my ears ring everytime they call it a historical day. Historical my ass… I remember when Saddam used to hold elections and you could only vote for him. This isn’t the same, but it isn’t that far off either. In both cases people will be treated as if they are threats to the government, arrested occasionally, and possibly tortured — since that’s an ok method to get your information.
But I wanted to let you in a secret, and I place myself in great danger with the very secret society known as single expats. There was a long chat between an Israeli graduate and I, about her going home, and how strange it is to have to interact with all her friends who are there and have their jobs, and their house, and have gotten married. I quickly agreed, cause I often feel the same whenever I head to PT (portugal) or NJ (jersey). While it can be a joy to see the married the friends, it’s often a very odd meeting as well, since the choices they have made are so foreign to me.