Jean Pierre Noher

A cunning man discovers they way to the world's good graces is through people's stomachs in this witty drama from filmmaker Marcos Jorge. Raimundo Nonato (Joao Miguel) is a shabby drifter who wanders into town in need of money and a place to stay. Nonato happens upon a cheap diner that's looking for a cook, and he persuades Zulmiro (Zeca Cenovicz), the owner, to give him the job. Zulmiro isn't willing to give Nonato much more than room and board at first, but the diner's customers soon discover that the former hobo has genuine talent in the kitchen, and his tasty specialties bring a whole new clientele to the place. One of the diner's new regulars is Giovanni (Carlo Briani), the owner of an upscale Italian restaurant, and he lures Nonato away by promising a high salary to become his new executive chef. For a while Nonato is living the high life until his luck turns sour and he winds up in prison. Nonato has a hard time of it behind bars until he starts putting is culinary talents to work, preparing tasty meals for his violent cellmates and using his cooking to win the friendship of feared enforcer Bujiu (Babu Santana). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Brazilian director Walter Salles Jr. follows up the Golden Globe-nominated Behind the Sun with this filmed adaptation of Argentinian-born Cuban revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara's journals of the same name. The Motorcycle Diaries stars Gael García Bernal (Y Tu Mamá También, Amores Perros) as a young, pre-revolution Guevara, a 23-year-old medical student in 1952 traveling across South America on a motorcycle with his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna), who co-wrote the source material. As they embark on their journey, both young men come of age and find their individual world views broadened farther than they ever expected. The Motorcycle Diaries premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide