Che is a two-part 2008 biopic about Ernesto 'Che' Guevara directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Benicio del Toro. Rather than follow a standard chronological order, the films offer an oblique series of interspersed moments along the overall timeline. Part One is entitled The Argentine and focuses on the Cuban revolution from the landing of Fidel Castro, Guevara, and other revolutionaries on Cuba to their successful toppling of the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista two years later. Part Two is entitled Guerrilla and focuses on Guevara's attempt to bring revolution to Bolivia and his demise. Both parts are shot in a cinéma vérité style, but each has different approaches to linear narrative, camerawork, and the visual look.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Produced by Laura Bickford
Benicio del Toro
Written by Peter Buchman
Benjamin A. van der Veen
Starring Benicio del Toro
Franka Potente
Catalina Sandino Moreno
Julia Ormond
Music by Alberto Iglesias
Cinematography Peter Andrews
Editing by Pablo Zumárraga
Studio Telecinco Cinema
Wild Bunch
Distributed by IFC Films
(United States)
Optimum Releasing (United Kingdom)
Release date(s) May 21, 2008 (Cannes Film Festival)
December 12, 2008 (United States)
Running time 268 minutes (Cannes)
235 minutes (Toronto)
Country Spain
France
United States
Language Spanish
English
Budget US$58 million[1]
Box office US$40,779,241[2]