CathyMatthews Motorcycle Diaries

I think there were several specific occasions that could have been helpful in shaping a future leader. One was in the desert when Ernesto and Alberto met the couple who had lost their house and belongings to the authorities. Ernesto didn't like that they had been forced to live off of the land and both having to find work even if it means they have to be split apart.

Another point was when the guys met some farmers. The farmers explained that they were without jobs because the government had taken back the farms after they had made them productive.

Also when they were on the ferry to San Pablo, Ernesto didn't like to see the ferry pulling a small boat behind them with the poor and sick people on it.

Finally, when the men reached the leper colony, Ernesto was bothered by the separation of the healthy people on one side of the river and the sick on the other side. He didn't feel it was necessary to follow the rule of wearing gloves when touching the sick patients.

All of these events seemed to make a difference in how Ernesto was thinking how things were done and could be done differently. It all seemed to add up when he was preparing to leave the island to continue his journey. His heartfelt birthday toast seemed to say it all. The emotions he showed when he was speaking, you could almost feel it. You could see his mind working on a solution for all the injustice that he had witnessed on this journey.

I liked the movie even thought I had never heard of Che Guevara. It seemed to me that Che had the right idea of helping those that others wouldn't because he was very caring and compassionate.