Del Toro walks out of 'Che' interview

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By Sonny Bunch

"I'm getting uncomfortable," Benicio del Toro says after fielding a question on his new movie's portrayal of the Bolivian and Cuban revolutions. "I'm done. I'm done, I hope you write whatever you want. I don't give a damn."

With that the Oscar-winning actor walks away, abruptly terminating his interview with this paper to discuss "Che," the controversial new biopic about the life and times of Cuban revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Heated discussion has inevitably followed this almost four-and-a-half-hour film's portrayal of the revered and reviled figure who sought to spread armed insurrection throughout Latin America and became a romanticized icon of rebellion in the process.

Yet, its star seems ill at ease on the hot seat.

Hunched over a plate of guacamole in the back room of gourmet Mexican restaurant Oyamel in the District, Mr. del Toro seemed excited to discuss the picture, which he co-produced with Mr. Soderbergh and Laura Bickford. Though the movie has received mixed critical reception, Mr. del Toro won top acting honors at Cannes this year. In his acceptance speech, he dedicated the award to Guevara.

The film was screened in Cuba, to much applause.

"Del Toro is spectacular in the role of Che, not only in his physical resemblance but also in his brilliant interpretation," wrote Granma, the official newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party. "After more than five hours of screening, the Cuban public gave its endorsement with a strong ovation."

"Not knowing much about the history of Cuba, the history of Che, not being taught anything about it," Mr. del Toro says of his motivation for helping to bring the picture to fruition. "The image that I have or what has been told to me about this character is that he's kind of a cowboy: a bloodthirsty cowboy."

In doing research for the picture, Mr. del Toro was drawn to the writings of Guevara. "First, you start with what he wrote. What Che Guevara wrote. And he was a great writer, he wrote for years, so you start with that," he says.

Given the film's tenor, however - Guevara is shown telling a reporter that the most important thing for a revolutionary to have is "el amor," love - it's fair to ask just which parts of the Guevara bibliography the producer was exposed to.