A Ton of Luck

Herlinda leads her six-year-old Simona away from their remote southern Colombian village, clutching a letter from husband Elmer Porras who serves in the army and faces a hidden debt. With almost no money, they rely on a sympathetic local grocer and a driver who agrees to take them toward Coreguaje, starting a perilous journey toward a new life. The move tests both their resolve and Simona's trust in the unknown.

The ride toward Coreguaje unfolds in a quiet, fragile atmosphere as Herlinda clings to hope and Simona's curiosity grows. The small journey becomes a test of trust in strangers and the road's dangers. They push forward with the sense that their new start depends on every mile traveled.

That night, the four soldiers stop in a nearby town and spend time in a brothel, where Perlaza's fascination with Dayana begins to complicate loyalties and judgment. The familiarity of comradeship is tested by desire and the creeping sense of temptation.

The next day, an ambush in the jungle forces the squad to flee as guerrillas retreat. They discover a guerrilla camp left bare of provisions, except for a cache of money hidden in makeshift metal cans.

Lieutenant Solorzano faces a moral crossroad as the stash seems linked to drug kingpins and guerrillas. The group debates whether to report the money or keep it; Porras argues for turning it in while Perlaza and Lloreda push for a share.

Against caution, they decide to keep the loot and divide what they can, aware of potential consequences yet driven by relief and security. They acknowledge the risk but choose immediate advantage over uncertain reward.

With cash in hand, they begin spending in visible ways—buying necessities, exchanging pesos for dollars, and using some to light fires. Their hunger for security and simple pleasures grows, even as nerves fray.

A plan forms to move the money back toward civilization, and a tense helicopter run is arranged to evacuate the wounded while the rest of the squad is ferried toward safety. Venegas's impulsive shot into the sky underscores the desperation driving their decisions.

The caravan becomes a cautious convoy toward the battalion, weaving through checkpoints with mounting anxiety. Solorzano coordinates the operation, trying to keep the cash hidden while staying ahead of prying eyes.

Upon arrival at the military airport, they face a formal requisition to verify weapons and kit, stoking fear of discovery. Lloreda dreads the loss of his share as Major Loaiza orders a thorough accounting.

A camera roll surfaces, showing the soldiers with the money and threatening to unravel their act of innocence. The Major pivots to leverage, offering Lloreda a stark choice: betray his comrades or be exposed.

In town, Lloreda faces formal judgment led by Major Loaiza as evidence piles up. Venegas confesses a desire to return the money to advance his career, yet his admission can't fully shield him from scrutiny.

Perlaza remains under the spell of Dayana, and the pair become central to the investigation as military police press their case. Dayana's role as lure and betrayer adds a bitter twist to the soldiers' fates.

Porras writes and sends a letter home, confessing what he has taken and revealing his love for his wife and daughter. Meanwhile Herlinda travels toward a rough settlement, where a backpack filled with cash stands as a silent testament to the choices made in the jungle.

In the final act, Perlaza, Venegas, Porras, and Lloreda stand at the edge of their destinies, their futures refracted as they buy fine clothes and confront the consequences of their choices. The battlefield has followed them home, a quiet, somber moment that underscores the cost of choosing survival over trust.