Plot
American magazine photo-journalist R.J. O'Brien arrives in Bolivia's Amazon basin to write a story about the rainforest. From his contact Chato, he learns of the efforts by Rafael Santos, the charismatic leader of the rubber tree tappers union, to lead a nonviolent resistance against corporate cattle ranchers. After numerous death threats, Santos is killed at his family home, seemingly by an indigenous assassin using what looks like a short tribal spear. Chato explains, it's the "Indians against rubber tappers, tappers against Indians...cattle ranchers against both" all while the land is being bought up with "big money." The community rises up in protest at Santos' funeral procession, conducted by Father Benacio. Santos' daughter Gloria tells O'Brien she saw a policeman when her father was killed. Upon meeting Alyssa Rothman from the Rainforest Preservation Society, R.J. is initially cynical and dismissive. Nevertheless, he follows Alyssa and her associate Sandra to a meeting at the home of Mr. Lucavida where Father Benacio and the community are gathered to discuss events. Having arrived uninvited, O'Brien is shown the door. Later that evening, his film is confiscated by a pistoleiro at a cantina.
The next day, while interviewing Mr. Pedrosa about the timber industry, O'Brien is taken hostage by a suspect being chased by police, led by Valdez. The suspect, Djamori of the Zingari tribe, is apprehended, but so is O'Brien. Valdez interrogates O'Brien about his connection to Djamori, who they claim killed Santos. O'Brien tells them to contact Alyssa to confirm his story; she arrives to bail him out. At a press conference, O'Brien suggests the police are framing Djamori. Two days later, before a trial can be conducted, Djamori is declared dead after supposedly hanging himself in his cell.
Sandra and Alyssa tell O'Brien the Zingari tribe are from the highlands. Setting off to learn more, they stop to help a woman whose house has been set on fire, and rescue her son Antonio who is trapped inside. At the river, they see Ataninde, who is taking Djamori's body for funeral rites. Against Alyssa's wishes, O'Brien insists they follow Ataninde on the river in a dugout canoe. The pistoleiro follows them, and shoots O'Brien in the shoulder with a rifle. They escape into the rainforest only to be captured by the Zingari, led by Ataninde. In their village, O'Brien photographs the fatal blows that prove Djamori was murdered. That evening during the funeral dance, Alyssa and R.J. are given an hallucinogenic drink that ignites their sexual passion.
The next day, they develop the photos but Valdez intercepts and ties up O'Brien inside his hotel room with a bomb. Alyssa saves him in time and they flee. Alyssa suspects Sandra knew about the bomb. At her office, O'Brien sees the pistoleiro handing Lucavida his photos, while Sandra sits with them. When Ataninde refuses to help them further, they shelter with Nacia Santos while O'Brien calls Chato to arrange a flight out of Bolivia. He agrees to meet in Bella Vista, but Valdez finds them first. Valdez and the police try to take O'Brien away, but the community bands together in passive resistance to bar his way. Valdez shoots one of them, but Nacia and Alyssa join them, interlocking their arms to form a human wall. Enraged, Valdez shoots Alyssa point-blank. Before they can haul O'Brien away, Ataninde takes Valdez hostage to demand O'Brien's release. O'Brien picks up Alyssa, and Ataninde stabs Valdez to death.
Every day, more than 70,000 acres of rainforest are destroyed. The loss to humanity and science is incalculable.
– Closing statement
While driving away, the pistoleiro fires at them. Ataninde shoots the pistoleiro, but not mortally. As Chato arrives with his sea plane, the pistoleiro uses a crossbow to fire a spear-bolt (the same kind that killed Santos), which kills Ataninde. O'Brien finally kills the pistoleiro with Ataninde's gun, and Chato flies O'Brien and Alyssa away from arriving police. Before she dies, Alyssa asks O'Brien to promise her, "Write about what you feel, not about what you've seen."
