Diego Quemada-Díez's startling debut presents a stark and unsentimental picture about the realities of migration. Centering on the story of three young Guatemalans attempting to cross the U.S. border from Mexico, Quemada-Díez compels viewers to contemplate the harsh circumstances that many migrants must face. Juan, Samuel and Sara (who is forced to disguise herself as a boy) embark on a journey that they believe will culminate in a life of ease and comfort once they arrive in the United States.

Hitching rides on cargo trains, they cross paths with Chauk, an adolescent boy from Chiapas who does not speak Spanish. Traveling together, the four youngsters encounter barrier after barrier, and discover that the elusive good life will remain forever out of reach.