Character Relationship Map: Che!

Characters

• Che Guevara (played by Omar Sharif) — protagonist

  Che Guevara is a young Argentine doctor who proves his mettle during the Cuban guerrilla war, earns the respect of his men, and becomes a patrol leader. He later serves as Fidel Castro's chief adviser...

• Fidel Castro (played by Jack Palance) — protagonist

  Fidel Castro is the revolutionary leader who recognizes Che Guevara's tactical ability and discipline, appointing him as chief adviser. After defeating the Cuban dictatorship, he later backs down duri...

• Celia Sanchez (played by Sarita Vara) — minor
• Antonio (played by Sid Haig) — minor

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Che Guevara → Antonio (Conflict Revolutionary Leader And Dissenter) — Antonio's criticism makes the campaign's internal dissent personal and directly challenges Che's leadership.

  As the Bolivian campaign deteriorates, Antonio tells Che that his disillusionment is with Che himself, not the cause.

• Che Guevara → Celia Sanchez (Alliance Entrusted Guardian) — Che entrusts Celia with Fidel's care as he departs from Cuba.

  When Che leaves Cuba, he asks Celia Sanchez to look after Fidel.

• Che Guevara → Fidel Castro (Conflict Revolutionary Allies Turned Rivals) — Their shared Cuban revolution gives way to disagreement over military control and Che's international revolutionary plans.

  They lead guerrillas together in Cuba, and Che later warns Fidel about the regular army. Che wants to spread revolution elsewhere, while Fidel fears C...

Story Analysis

Che's revolutionary commitment carries him from the Cuban struggle into government and then to a Bolivian campaign increasingly undermined by isolation and dissent.

Plot Progression

1. Discipline in the Sierra — Che and Fidel lead guerrillas through hardship and government attacks. Betrayal and executions reveal the severity of Che's revolutionary discipline.
2. Winning Public Support — The rebels use radio and public speeches to contest government influence. The revolution succeeds, and Che moves into major government roles.
3. A Break with Fidel — Che warns that the regular army could threaten the revolution and argues for an armed militia under revolutionary control. His desire to spread revolution conflicts with Fidel's concerns, and Che leav...
4. The Bolivian Campaign — Che organizes a new guerrilla campaign with Tania's assistance, but the fighters face shortages and fail to recruit enough local support. Isolation grows as Che's optimistic messages meet doubt.
5. Dissent in the Ranks — The campaign's prospects dwindle, and some Bolivian comrades seek permission to leave. Antonio confronts Che, separating his faith in the cause from his disillusionment with Che.