"The Motorcycle Diaries" is presented at the Sundance Film Festival.
"The Motorcycle Diaries" chronicles the pre-revolutionary days of Ernesto "Che" Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado riding a 500cc Norton motorcycle dubbed "The Mighty One" (La Poderosa), through South America on an eight month, soul-searching, life-altering journey.
Guevara is closely associated with "La Poderosa", but the 1939 Norton Model 18 ( an OHV single-cylinder 490cc) was actually owned by Granado.
The whereabouts of the original bike are unknown, but a replica is on display at the Che Guevara Museum in Alta Gracia, Argentina.
British historian Alex von Tunzelmann, who reviews films at The Guardian for historical accuracy, graded the film an A- in "History", while giving the film a B in "Entertainment". After comparing scenes from the film to the actual diaries, Tunzelmann penned that "The Motorcycle Diaries gets a lot right, it's an entertaining and accurate portrayal of the formative youth of a revolutionary icon."
WTF - Eighty-one year-old Alberto Granado had an invitation to the Sundance premiere, but he was refused an Entry Visa by the United States. On May 19, 2004 it was featured at the Cannes Film Festival and Granado was able to attend.
