Motorcycle Diaries The Movie

The Motorcycle Diaries contains the story of two young men, Ernesto and Alberto, who take on an adventurous journey throughout an unknown land. In this journey of discovery becomes one of self-discovery as well. Throughout the movie, the adventure trip shapes Ernesto’s personality of a character psychologically, morally, and socially.

In the beginning of the movie, the fact that he says good-bye to only family members before he takes off to a trip gives a way that Ernesto was a shy medical student who doesn’t have many friends but Alberto. We can say that he might not be so social after all. However, throughout the movie he finds himself involving with many different types of people. Ernesto wanted to be with the people with leprosy on the other side of the river to celebrate his birthday. He risked his life, to cross the Amazon River at night by swimming, to be with people who he thinks he belongs or fits in to. In life, we all look for the social group that we want to be in it or to get along to move along in the society. 

In the middle of the movie, we find the two young men needing for food and drink. Though Alberto tries to lie and get some food and drink, Ernesto being honesty ruined the opportunity to meet their needs. However, he learns from Alberto that sometime in a life, there is a moment where he can lie to survive. Then Ernesto lies with Alberto to get food, drink, and motorcycle treatment. At this moment we can tell that Ernesto’s moral have shifted a little. He knows what’s wrong and right. However, he chose the wrong to receive the needs.

When Ernesto was affected by feelings he chose to use the $15 that the girl he loves gave to him to buy her swimsuit. He never gave to Alberto to waste it or to use it to buy his asthma medicine. He got to meet the communist couple who were looking for a job to feed themselves; he felt the sympathy and gave them the $15. His mind was affected by this couple that buying the swimsuit for his girl did not matter anymore. At the end of the movie, the two young men separated and chose different directions. Alberto found himself a very good offer and Ernesto was with questions that the answers were so clear and sure in the beginning of the journey but not sure anymore. He says “all this time we spend on the road, something happened, something I’ll have to think about for a long time.” Wondering around the America gave him a psychological affect that no one knows but himself changed him. Finally, at the very end, he says “I am not me anymore, at least I’m not the same me I was.”