The Motorcycle Diaries

Dir. Walter Salles · Argentina, Brazil · Quechua, Spanish

7.9 Our score

2004 Movie Drama

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Our take

Let’s fight! I’m not a fan of “Into the wild” okay okay, calm down… Maybe we can fix this. Maybe we could watch “The Motorcycle Diaries” together. Watching this heartwarming movie, you will get the travel bug. I got it and I never got rid of it. I even want to go on a motorcycle tour through South America although I would have never dreamed of getting on a motorbike. Have fun with it. Oh and… this film is about the young Che Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado by the way.

Streaming arrival

PeacockSep 21, 2026
Prime VideoSep 5, 2026

What it won

Awards

Oscars

1 win · 1 nom

Won: Best Original SongNominated: Best Adapted Screenplay

Cannes

3 wins

Won: François Chalais AwardWon: Prize of the Ecumenical JuryWon: Technical Grand Prize

Golden Globes

1 nom

Nominated: Best Foreign Language Film

BAFTA

2 wins · 5 noms

Won: Anthony Asquith Award for Film MusicWon: Best Film Not in the English LanguageNominated: Best CinematographyNominated: Best FilmNominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleNominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated: Best Screenplay (Adapted)

Spirit Awards

2 wins · 1 nom

Won: Best CinematographyWon: Best Debut PerformanceNominated: Best Director

WGA

1 nom

Nominated: Best Adapted Screenplay (Screen)

Nat. Board of Review

1 win

Won: Top Foreign Films

LAFCA

1 nom

Nominated: Best Foreign Film

European Film Awards

1 nom

Nominated: Screen International Award

César Awards

1 nom

Nominated: Best Foreign Film

Goya Awards

1 nom

Nominated: Best Screenplay

The story

What happens

Based on the journals of Che Guevara, leader of the Cuban Revolution. In his memoirs, Guevara recounts adventures he and best friend Alberto Granado had while crossing South America by motorcycle in the early 1950s.

Elsewhere