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Based on a bizarre but true tale, this allegory examines the insanity of a government that is far more dangerous to its people than their worst enemies. Set in 1974 Albania when the Enver Hoxha Stalinist regime ran things, the story centers on a government program called "bunkerization" in which 700,000 enormous underground concrete bunkers were to be created to protect the three million Albanians from enemy attacks. Construction on the bunkers was to be completed by 1981. As Albania was one of the poorest countries in Europe, the task seemed monumental. Even professional soldier Muro Neto, the man selected by the government to oversee the task, quietly questioned its purpose. The bulk of the film, centers on his attempts to complete the gargantuan undertaking. Eventually, after much bureaucracy and many obstacles "Colonel Bunker," as the people called him, began publicly voicing his doubts about the project and this led to his execution -- in real life, Neto is still alive and even provided technical assistance on this film.