Ocean Press

Following the success of The Motorcycle Diaries, the book of the movie of the same name, which hit the New York Times bestseller list the same week George W. Bush was reelected in 2004, Ocean Press is about to release the book of Steven Soderbergh’s long-awaited two-part biopic on Che Guevara.

Soderbergh has based his movie on Che Guevara’s own writings. “CHE Part One” draws on Che’s lively account of the guerrilla movement that led to the 1959 Cuban revolution (Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War), while “CHE Part Two” is based on his famous, unfinished Bolivian Diary that catapulted the Argentine-born doctor to iconic status around the globe.

CHE: The Diaries of Ernesto Che Guevara is a selection from each of these classic diaries, plus Che Guevara’s fiery speech to the UN General Assembly in December 1964, a scene brilliantly recreated by Benicio Del Toro who stars in the title role of the movie. The book also includes some touching farewell letters to his parents and children and some original photos on which Soderbergh has based scenes in his movies.

Ocean Press holds world rights to the works of Ernesto Che Guevara, in association with his family in Cuba.

David Deutschmann, Ocean Press president and the editor of the bestselling Che Guevara Reader, commented: “Che remains a popular figure in the world today, but the important thing is for Che’s own words to be available so that those wearing the T-shirt can know who he really was and what he stood for.”

 “CHE Part One” and “CHE Part Two” will be released together for one week from December 12 in special “Roadshow” screenings in New York and Los Angeles. A national rollout will follow in January 2009. CHE is distributed in the US by IFC films.