[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_motorcycle_diaries_cover.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[TheIdealist Before he changed the world]], [[RussianReversal the world changed him]].]]

''The Motorcycle Diaries'' (''Diarios de motocicleta'') is a 2004 {{Biopic}} of UsefulNotes/CheGuevara, directed by Brazilian Walter Salles. It is based on Che's eponymous book and Alberto Granado's one, ''Traveling with Che Guevara: The Making of a Revolutionary'' (''Con el Che por Sudamerica'').

Ernesto Guevara (Creator/GaelGarciaBernal) was once, before becoming the "Che", a medicine student at the University of Buenos Aires. He and his buddy Alberto Granado (Rodrigo De la Serna) decided to ride Che's motorcycle, "La Poderosa" ("the Mighty One") through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela.

----
!!''The Motorcycle Diaries'' provides examples of :

* AffectionateNickname: Che is "Fuser" ("Enraged"), Alberto is "Mial" ("Mi Alberto").
* AgeLift: Gael Garcia Bernal was 26, whereas Che was 23, but Rodrigo De la Serna and Alberto Granado were both 29.
* ComingOfAgeStory: At the end in Caracas, Che talks about his political awakening :
--> '''Che''': You see, Mial, all this time we spent on the road, something happened. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Something I'll have to think about for a while]]. There's much injustice, don't you think ? [Alberto nodds] [[note]] Mirá, Mial, todo este tiempo que pasamos en la ruta, sucedió algo. Algo que tengo que pensar por mucho tiempo. Cuánta injusticia, ¿no? [[/note]]
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Alberto and Ernesto don't part until they crossed 12 425 kms. They seem to have been close friends for a while already when they leave Buenos Aires.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Ever saw the iconic face? [[http://www.clarin.com/mundo/AVENTURA-GRANADO-AMAZONAS-TRAVESIA-AMERICA_CLAIMA20110306_0068_4.jpg Picture it without the beard]].
* RoadTripPlot: With a ComingOfAgeStory.
* SceneryPorn: Lakes, mountains and deserts, Valparaiso, Cuzco, Machu Pichu and Amazon.
* SiblingYinYang: A physical version, with two sisters not looking alike at all in Chile.
* YoungFutureFamousPeople: Pre-revolutionary Che, aged 23.
* TheWorldIsJustAwesome: Both get stunned by the sceneries they cross.
----