Rude Awakening

In 1969, Fred Wook and Jesus Monteya flee the United States to avoid arrest by the FBI. They abandon the inner-city commune and relocate to the jungles of Central America, hoping to escape the political turmoil around them. Fred remains an idealist who works on an underground newspaper with his friend Sammy, while Jesus is a brain-fried stoner shaped by heavy LSD experiments.

Before fleeing, Jesus is subjected to high-dose LSD experiments conducted by researchers hoping to turn pacifists into soldiers. The tests leave his mind altered and his pacifist instincts stubbornly intact, shaping his behavior for years to come. The backstory explains his laid-back, improvised outlook while the world moves on.

Twenty years pass with Fred and Jesus living in near isolation in the Central American jungle. They continue to survive off the land, wrestling with the idea that their activism may have faded. A dying man arrives, entrusting them with documents and insisting they return to the US to stop a looming action that could change everything.

Fred and Jesus return to the United States and are shocked by the 1980s yuppie culture they've missed. Sammy and Petra have embraced the materialistic lifestyle they once opposed. The mission to stop an invasion feels increasingly unlikely as they re-enter urban life.

Fred and Jesus attempt to recruit Sammy and Petra to their anti-war movement, hoping to rekindle the camaraderie they once shared. The pair is resistant, clinging to the comforts of the life they’ve built. The dynamic tests their friendship and their stubborn ideals.

The quartet organizes a sit-in at the University of New York to protest the potential invasion. Their actions inspire some students even as others remain indifferent, highlighting the gap between idealism and action. The event acts as a catalyst for the public debate surrounding the invasion.

The documents that sparked the sit-in turn out to be a theoretical exercise rather than concrete invasion plans. Nevertheless, the controversy reveals a public appetite for war under the banner of victory. Fred and Jesus wrestle with the unintended consequences of their activism.

Despite the lack of a formal plan, public sentiment shifts toward supporting a war that the government could win. Fred is broken by the thought that his actions may have helped ignite conflict. He contemplates leaving New York with Jesus for unknown destinations.

Fred decides to abandon his mission and plans to travel with Jesus to unknown places. Sammy and Petra decline to join, choosing to remain in their prosperous lifestyle. The city feels cold as the two friends face an uncertain future apart from their old revolution.

On the street, college students approach Fred for help in mobilizing action against ecological and social problems. Their energy rekindles Fred's faith that there will always be a younger generation ready to carry the flame. He realizes that, even in defeat, hope persists when people still strive for change.

The film closes with an onscreen sing-along to the song 'Revolution' during the closing credits. The moment reinforces the idea that the struggle for change continues beyond the story. It leaves the audience with a sense of ongoing collective action.