ABSTRACT
The Motorcycle Diaries is a recent classic of Latin American cinema. Ever since its release in 2004, it has enjoyed an unabashed popularity worldwide. In the case of The Motorcycle Diaries, however, many have watched the film at some point in their life, and they tend to remember it. Moreover, the film continues to exert a spell on contemporary viewers even though almost two decades have passed since its first release. Without a doubt, travel and all that it entails has had an important share in the film's success. Many people decided to hit the road after watching it, not only because it ultimately seems rather easy to do so – the travel is low budget and nothing much is planned – but also because travel is presented as a truly meaningful experience. For an older generation, The Motorcycle Diaries taps into nostalgia for pre-neoliberal times, when other political formulas still seemed viable alternatives and positive feelings were intensely lived.
