A Ton of Luck

A Ton of Luck

Year: 2006

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: Spanish

Director: Rodrigo Triana

ActionDramaComedy

Based on true events in Colombia in May 2003, four soldiers—Porras, Venegas, Lloreda and Perlaza—of the anti‑guerrilla “Destroyer” battalion find $46 million hidden in a FARC cache during a jungle rescue mission. They keep the cash instead of handing it to the government, only to discover the sole bridge out of the jungle has been blown up. Stranded without food, water or basic supplies, they must decide how to use the fortune to secure power, respect and a better life for their families while attempting to return to civilization.

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Timeline & Setting – A Ton of Luck (2006)

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Time period

Location

Remote village in southern Colombia, the jungle, a military airport/base, a rough settlement

The film opens in a quiet, remote village in southern Colombia where a mother and daughter begin a difficult journey. The road toward Coreguaje places them in a harsh landscape where danger lurks and help is uncertain. Later, the jungle becomes the stage for a counter-guerrilla unit wrestling with hunger, loyalty, and the lure of money that could change their lives.

🌄 Rural Colombia 🗺️ Jungle setting ⚔️ Military conflict 💸 Loot and corruption

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:25

Main Characters – A Ton of Luck (2006)

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Herlinda (Carolina Ramírez)

A young mother traveling with her 6-year-old daughter Simona, seeking a new start while carrying the weight of her husband's hidden debt. She embodies resilience, tenderness, and a stubborn hope that keeps her moving toward Coreguaje. Her decision to trust a driver and endure the road underscores the vulnerability of ordinary people in times of crisis.

👩‍👧 Family 🌅 Hope 🚶‍♀️ Journey

Lloreda (Diego Cadavid)

A member of the counter-guerrilla unit who balances competence with inner conflict. He is pragmatic and loyal to his comrades, but the lure of money exposes cracks in his resolve. His reactions reveal how fear and desire can erode discipline in extreme conditions.

🪖 Soldier 💸 Greed ⚖️ Duty

Porras (Manuel José Chaves)

A grounded, debt-afflicted soldier who argues for doing what is right by reporting the money. His sense of duty collides with personal fear and the temptation of relief from poverty. He becomes a realist who questions whether the system will fail him anyway.

🪖 Soldier 💼 Debt ⚖️ Morality

Venegas (Juan Sebastián Aragón)

An idealistic fighter whose career ambitions are tested by the money's lure. He wrestles with how far he will go to secure a better future and what he is willing to betray for personal advancement. His actions reveal the fragility of professed loyalty under pressure.

🪖 Soldier 💸 Ambition ⚖️ Ethics

Dayana (Verónica Orozco)

A performer in a nearby town brothel whose presence stirs desire and complicates loyalties. She becomes a catalyst for tension within the group, embodying both temptation and a warning about the consequences of letting desire drive choices.

🎭 Temptation 👀 Lure 💔 Consequence

Solorzano (Teniente Solorzano)

A principled lieutenant who weighs duty against desire and tries to maintain discipline as the stash tests the unit.

🪖 Officer ⚖️ Duty 💡 Morality

Perlaza (Justo Perlaza)

A fellow soldier who is drawn into the decision to keep the loot; his loyalties are tested and his fate hinges on the group's cohesion.

🪖 Soldier 💰 Temptation 🗺️ Crisis

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:25

Major Themes – A Ton of Luck (2006)

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💰 Greed

A cache of about $40 million found in a guerrilla camp triggers a moral crisis for the soldiers. They argue whether to report the money or keep it for themselves, revealing how desperation can distort judgment. The money's presence fuels distrust and tests the limits of discipline and camaraderie. The narrative uses greed to examine how wealth can redefine loyalties and consequences.

🤝 Loyalty

Loyalty is stretched as comrades confront personal desires and the temptations of a windfall. Dayana’s pull, along with the promise of relief, threatens to fracture the unit’s unity. Each man’s choice exposes what they value: duty to country, loyalty to friends, or self-preservation. The film keeps the focus on how fragile trust can become under pressure.

🪖 War's toll

The jungle war experience exposes the emotional and moral costs of combat on ordinary soldiers. Ambushes, interrogations, and the seductive lure of money forces them to navigate fear, loyalty, and judgment. The story probes how training and discipline erode when faced with temptation and danger. The closing arcs reveal the lasting impact of conflict on personal futures.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:25

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A Ton of Luck Summary

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