Ernesto and Alberto obviously come from wealth and privelge. They set out across South Anerica on "The Mighty One" looking for fun and adventure. "The Mighty One" turns out to be not so mighty which changes the course of their trip. After many breakdowns and accidents render the bike unrepairable, they are forced to completed they trip on foot. This affords them an opportunity to see the country in a way they never would have by bike. Ernesto had no idea the true adventure he was embarking on, how it would forever change him, and where it would ultimately lead him. There were many experiences that he went through that opened his eyes to the problems and social injustices occuring in Latin America which would eventually motivate him to become the political leader of the Cuban Revolution.
One of the first experiences that began to open his eyes to the injustices was when they met the couple forced off their land, to leave their child with friends, and go looking for work because of their communist beliefs. Watching this scene I had flashbacks to the scene in "Machuca" where the military were rounding up everyone in Pedro's neighborhood for the same reason. I imagine that couple had much the same experience. They follow the couple, looking for work, to the copper mine where he sees how the owners treat the men looking for work. He is so moved by this couples plight that he gives them his $15, even though that was all he had. Another experience that pointed to the differences between the rich and the poor was when they were crossing the river to Peru. They and the "haves" were on a nice boat with plenty of food and entertainment. Their boat was towing a much smaller, rickety boat overcrowded by the "have-nots". Their visit to the Incan ruins cause him to wonder how such a highly civilized people could just disappear. It is there that Alberto plants the seed of a peaceful revolution. Lastly there was the San Pablo leper colony. Again, he sees the drastic differences between the rich and the poor. The staff live on one side of the river and the lepers live on the other. The staff members live in nice buildings, have nice clothes, and plenty of food. The lepers live in shanties, have ragged clothes and raise their own food. He symbolically shuns his own wealth and rich lifestyle when he leaves his birthday party and swims across the river to spend his birthday with the lepers on their side of the river. It is at his birthday party that he gives his first political speech. As he says at the end of the film, the trip changed him more than he thought. "I am not me any more. At least I'm not the same me I was".
Ernest's birthday party was similar to birthday parties in the US in many ways. There was birhtday cake, food, singing, and music. Birthday parties in the US usually include close family and friends. His party included people he had just met. However, being away from home, he couldn't celebrate with his family. It was nice of them to throw him a party so far from home. People in the US would do the same in a similar situation. For example, a host family throwing a paryt for a foriegn exchange student staying with them. Their parties seem to include more people and everyone seems to get involved. Dancing and music seem to be a more imprtant part of their celebrations than in the US.
I posted a similar blog. I thought the examples you gave were good of the experiences that would affect Ernesto's future. I also thought a turning point for him was when he met the "mining couple" and saw how they were treated. I was so involved in the story that I was worried for Ernesto's life when he swam across the river. He wanted to be with the poor, common people and not the rich workers celebrating.
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed at the dancing that takes place at every celebration no matter the ocaasion.