Fishing Without Nets

The film opens by showing Abdi's poverty and his family's precarious situation. He lives as a fisherman and must cope with a sea that is polluted, making his livelihood precarious and fraught with danger. The setting establishes the harsh environment that drives the later choices he makes.

Abdi and his fellow pirates seize a cargo vessel, taking its crew as hostages. The hijacking marks a turning point, pulling Abdi into a dangerous power struggle on board and setting the stage for moral conflicts. The crew's fear contrasts with Abdi's growing concerns about the consequences of their actions.

Among the hostages, Abdi begins to form a surprising bond with Victor, a white captive. The relationship complicates the pirates' dynamics and introduces a human element to their kidnapping. The story begins to ask whether Abdi will stay loyal to his crew or consider mercy.

Discontent grows among the pirate crew as payments falter and distant planes hover overhead, reminding them of the outside surveillance and lack of reward. Friction increases between hardliners and more pragmatic members, foreshadowing conflict. These tensions threaten to unravel the crew's cohesion.

Khadir and his men confront the crew on the cargo ship over stolen money and the lack of payment. The dispute escalates into a standoff that tests loyalties and the threat of violence among the pirates. Victor watches the power struggle unfold from the hostage position.

Abdi contemplates abandoning the operation to return home and protect his family, but suspicion and accusations of stealing money and communicating with drones follow him. The plan exposes the moral cost of his choices and foreshadows a possible exit from the dangerous life. His inner conflict intensifies the narrative drive.

Under the influence of khat and gasoline, the pirates force Victor to recite the shahada, illustrating the volatile mix of desperation and intoxication aboard the ship. Khadir and his men intervene to prevent harm, temporarily quelling the crisis. The moment heightens the tension and shows the fragility of control.

Tensions culminate in a violent assault as the pirates seize full control of the cargo ship. Khadir is killed in the ensuing chaos, leaving a power vacuum and escalating the danger for everyone else aboard. Abdi is forced to confront the consequences of the mutiny.

In the turmoil, Abdi is confined to a room at the bottom of the ship as he attempts to escape. The imprisonment mirrors his sense of entrapment within the violent enterprise and tests his resolve. Victor remains among the hostages as the situation deteriorates.

Abdi and Victor attempt to escape, but their plan is thwarted when Victor is killed by the same pirate who killed Khadir. The double tragedy underscores the brutal economics of piracy and the personal costs for both captor and captive. The event marks a turning point for Abdi's survival instincts.

After escaping, Abdi gives Victor a proper burial and recommits to the mission of locating the ransom money. The burial ritual offers a moment of humanity amid chaos and reinforces his determination. The search for the money becomes the narrative through-line toward the film's end.

Abdi navigates the cargo ship to the area and ultimately finds the money, resolving the central conflict of the heist. The story closes with Abdi succeeding in his goal and the tale coming full circle, though the consequences of his choices linger. The ending reaffirms the themes of survival and transformation.