Che: Part One

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Che: Part One

2009

2h 9m

Biography

Drama

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Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

135 Reviews

75%

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10,000+ Ratings

Ernesto "Che" Guevara (Benicio del Toro) transforms from intellectual, asthmatic doctor to one of Latin America's legendary revolutionaries. In the years before his famous 1964 visit to the United Nations, Che joins forces with Cuban exile Fidel Castro (Demián Bichir) and ignites a revolution that eventually brings an end to the Batista regime in Cuba.

Critics Consensus

Though lengthy and at times plodding, Soderbergh's vision and Benicio Del Toro's understated performance ensure that Che always fascinates.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

Oct 1, 2009

4/5

Those who have read something about this will get more out of the movies, but it's not compulsory. I saw both parts in one day and the experience was absorbing.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Oct 1, 2009

2/5

The Guevara portrayed here has humour but no irony: his commitment to the revolutionary ethos leaves little room for doubt, neurosis, or private loyalties of any kind.

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Sep 30, 2009

2/5

A major disappointment. Soderbergh has stripped the story of most of its drama and though Del Toro, who won Best Actor at Cannes last year, is very convincing as Che, this Spanish-language film almost seems like an anti-movie.

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

Aug 5, 2020

Like the revolutionary himself, Che is an unrelenting, uncompromising struggle against the norm, a refreshing break from the standards of cinema itself.

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Nikki Baughan

Roll Credits

Nov 4, 2019

5/5

Del Toro in the lead role... is an absolutely masterful performance, a tour de force portrayal that gets under the skin of Che without resorting the caricature.

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PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

Dec 2, 2018

4/5

Soderbergh's noble trudge through a ground-level account of the Cuban Revolution as seen through our notional conduit, Che Guevara, is some feat of logistical filmmaking.

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Roberto S.

@BasketballJonze Nov 23, 2025

VIEW THE : CHÉ CRITERION COLLECTION CONTAINS CHÉ PART ONE “The Argentine” CHÉ PART TWO “Guerrilla “ Plus making of Documentary Deleted scenes & original un - narrated Spanish Audio (Optional subtitles) European Neo realistic war Film

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Liam D

@Mediawatcher2003 May 19, 2024

The start of an two part saga. There are some good elements to the film but it’s overlong for it’s own sake

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The H

@manunited Nov 2, 2023

steady, documentary like biography

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Feb 16, 2022

It lacks some elements, but the part of the story we get to watch is good. Benicio del Toro's acting is superb, and the rest of the cast also did a great job.

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Jun 19, 2021

Che: Part One and Che: Part Two are outstanding two-part biographical films the world must know the title character and history. Steven Soderbergh did an amazing job directing Che: Part One and Che: Part Two. The two-part film is his second biographical film and also his first and only non-english film. Benicio del Toro did an excellent job to both producing the film as well as portraying Ernesto "Che" Guevara. I really love the opening overture sequences as seen in part one and part two. Che is my favorite biographical film.

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dave s

@RT68722908 May 18, 2021

Combined, the two parts of Steven Soderbergh's Che run for well over four hours. What could have been a great film about Ernesto ‘Che' Guevara is instead two films (part one in Cuba, part two in Bolivia) that are merely decent. The primary problem is, of course, the length, as Soderbergh sometimes seems to lose sight of the fact that there is a fine line between compelling drama and the sight of men in fatigues endlessly tromping around in the jungle. The films also ignore the less glorious aspects of Che's character, totally ignoring the four year period after the Cuban Revolution when he ran the Santa Clara prison and executed a countless number of political prisoners. Despite this, the film is beautifully shot and features a remarkable performance by Benicio Del Toro. Check it out, but be patient.

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Steven Soderbergh

Director

Benicio del Toro

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara de la Serna

Demián Bichir

Fidel Castro

Santiago Cabrera

Camillo Cienfuegos

Elvira Mínguez

Celia Sanchez

Franka Potente

Tania

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Synopsis

Ernesto "Che" Guevara (Benicio del Toro) transforms from intellectual, asthmatic doctor to one of Latin America's legendary revolutionaries. In the years before his famous 1964 visit to the United Nations, Che joins forces with Cuban exile Fidel Castro (Demián Bichir) and ignites a revolution that eventually brings an end to the Batista regime in Cuba.

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Screenwriter: Peter Buchman, Benjamin A. Van der Veen, Ernesto "Che" Guevara
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Guerrilla Films Inc., Morena Films, Telecinco Cinema
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 28, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
Runtime: 2h 9m

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