Deal of the Century

The events unfold in the late 1980s, a period marked by deregulated arms trade and the rise of privatized defense contractors. High-tech weapons demonstrations and bribes are depicted as part of a global market for conflict, reflecting the era's cynical economics of war. The timeframe anchors the film's satire of the military-industrial complex.

San Miguel is depicted as a war-torn, impoverished South American country where the regime negotiates with both its leader and rebels, illustrating the chaos of civil conflict and external arms deals. The story also travels to the United States, a backdrop of private defense contractors and high-stakes deals, culminating in a major defense industry exposition. The contrast between San Miguel's instability and the U.S. corporate-dominated scene underscores the global stakes of modern warfare.

💰 Greed

The film centers on profit-driven arms dealing, where billions in defense contracts are pursued at the expense of ethics. Bribery, tax-deductible kickbacks, and corporate maneuvering show how money power steers political outcomes. The plot reveals that violence is commodified and normalized as a business strategy.

🛰️ Technology

Unmanned aerial vehicles and other high-tech weapons symbolize the distance of modern warfare, enabling conflicts without direct human presence. The Peacemaker drone's capabilities drive the plot and expose the fragility of control, especially as glitches threaten catastrophic consequences. The film critiques reliance on technology to solve political problems while masking moral costs.

🕊️ Morality

Characters confront ethical choices in a world where war profits clash with personal conscience. Ray Kasternak experiences a religious conversion that conflicts with his past, while Harold DeVoto and Eddie Muntz wrestle with the consequences of their schemes. Catherine's vengeance and the downfall of the deal emphasize how personal morality intersects with global power.