AllMovie

Forces of politics and nature converge to throw a poor nation into chaos in this drama. Sam (Cyril O'Reilly) is a photojournalist from the United States who is on assignment in the South American country of San Pedro. While his stated goal is to cover a visit by the Pope, Sam also hopes to score an exclusive interview with Marcos (Carlos Carrasco), the leader of an insurgent band of revolutionaries. While Sam's attempts to track down Marcos earn him the enmity of President Mendoza (F. Murray Abraham), San Pedro's brutally repressive leader, he also makes the acquaintance of Luisa (Patricia Velazquez), a doctor who has devoted her life to helping the poverty-stricken peasants living in the mountains. With Luisa's help, Sam finally meets Marcos and is able to document his brave struggle on film, but as a full-scale revolution is on the verge of toppling Mendoza's regime, a long-dormant volcano comes to life and threatens all of San Pedro's residents, regardless of political affiliation. Roger Corman served as executive producer.