MovieChat Forums > La Mission (2009) Discussion > Che's perspective

Che's perspective

posted 14 years ago by bellaalma
8 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this movie on Netflix. I had never even heard of it until it was recommended on Netflix. Anyway, overall, I thought the acting was great and the film did a good job of giving an authentic (as authentic as film can be) glimpse into this culture.

I loved Benjamin Bratt's portrayal of Che. I was just wondering if anyone sympathized with Che? It seemed that the movie was really focused on showing how he needed to change, though it did show that Che had a good heart in the things he did for others. I think he was a man who was very conflicted. His love for his son was obvious, but he also had a lifetime of beliefs that shaped his perception of homosexuality. That said, he was still trying to accept his son as best he could. It seemed like he just needed more time. Eveyone expected him to just accept his son't homosexuality overnight. He was a product of his environment and upbringing. Yet, he was trying to be accepting, which had to be extremely difficult for him. I don't think his son appreciated that neither did others in the film.

How did you view Che?

[–] kinneyboy90 14 years ago

Exactly how you did. He was a father who no doubt had done a lot for his son and loved him, but like his own life, was very conflicted. He had to fight many personal demons as well as deal with something he had been taught to hate. I sympathized for him.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] LadyJEsq 12 years ago

That was my take as well Rebel. It wasn't difficult for the rest of the family to accept Jess, it shouldn't have taken him so long either. Especially after he was almost killed. But I'm glad he finally did have his epiphany and was able to finally accept him for who he was.

"What do you say to the God of Death?"
"Not today!"

[–] first-things-first 11 years ago

I understood his reaction, I just didn't agree. You list valid points for Che's initial rejection of his son. But I saw a man that used life and made his choices acceptable. He had broken the law and did time in jail. Where was his religion then? He was violent to the point of physical abuse. Where was his religion? Maybe accepting his son challenged his beliefs, but when he said God made man and woman, I questioned what religion meant to him. God had other rules that he broke and that was okay. In the end he was on a path for change. That is all we can ask of ourselves.

she loved poetry and romance, but she hit the glass ceiling at birth

[–] KayDrama 11 years ago

it's an entirely different culture - and I don't mean the Mexican culture. Che comes from a street culture and has a street mentality. I have lived in that type of culture and i can tell you that I can appreciate a man that can protect his family. However, Che used his power against his son (and against the innocent man in the car).

Unless you have lived in similar conditions - it can be like a war zone - it would be difficult to understand that a man can be admired for his capability to resort to violence when it is needed.

I think Che had tried to move beyond his drunken and violent past in the sense of what he did to the driver, but he took out his rage on someone else and he should have gone to jail for that assault.

[–] first-things-first 11 years ago

Thanks for standing up that culture doesn't need to mean skin color. That word "race" identifies us all. Honor was defended by the fists. And I do understand a need to defend yourself, but sometimes it's just accepted that nothing else will do. So, if there is positive re-enforcement from a behavior, why stop. And your "when it is needed" is very powerful and alarming, because it's subjective and individual. No different than drawing a line in the sand. It will take society to set boundaries.
I agree about his violence with the driver, but I did read a post that said sometimes no one is punished. Maybe in his mind he did nothing heinous. He was standing up for himself.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] KayDrama 11 years ago

I disagree that he was standing up for himself in the instance with the driver though. How many times has soneone steeped out in front of a car scaring the driver to death that he/she may have hurt or killed the pedestrian? Being scared that makes you call the pedestrian an idiot or stupid is a first traction blurt. (I don't recall if the driver spewed any racial epithets with it.) So the driver was innocent and Che just took his frustration out on an innocent bystander. Imagine if you or a family member had been that driver. If it had been 1 punch, I'd say he deserved 30 days, but he left the driver unconscious. He basically beat him, not punched him. We don't know if that man is dead, in a coma, needs teeth reconstructed. If anyone could identify him, there would, and should, be a trial. I don't care hire macho-sexy Ben Bratt is! ;)

[–] KayDrama 11 years ago

Sorry, typing on my phone so the edit button is not available to fix the typos in my last response.