Salt and Fire 2017

As the sun sets over the arid expanse of South America, three esteemed scientists - Dr. Laura Sommerfield, Dr. Fabio Cavani, and Dr. Arnold Meir - find themselves abruptly transported to the heart of a toxic salt flat, Salar de Uyuni, as part of a United Nations investigation into an ecological catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. The trio’s mission is to uncover the truth behind the catastrophic consequences of diverting two rivers for irrigation purposes, which have since given rise to an ever-expanding and increasingly noxious salt flat.

Upon their arrival, however, the scientists are swiftly seized by the enigmatic CEO (Michael Shannon) of the international conglomerate responsible for the ecological disaster. His motives are shrouded in mystery, as he appears both haunted by the calamity and perplexed by its broader implications. Little do they know that their predicament is mere coincidence, as a far more ominous threat looms on the horizon - the ancient supervolcano, Uturunku, whose stirrings may signal an impending eruption of apocalyptic proportions.

Meanwhile, the two male scientists are subjected to a sinister form of restraint, forced to consume food laced with an unknown substance that induces excruciating digestive distress, effectively keeping them incommunicado. In stark contrast, Dr. Laura Sommerfield is taken on a solitary journey to the desolate heart of the salt flat, where she finds herself stranded near a rocky outcropping alongside two young children, Huascar and Atahualpa, whose names pay homage to the last two independent rulers of the Incan Empire - men who once clashed in a futile war against each other. The trio is provisioned with enough sustenance to last a week, but their fate hangs precariously in the balance, as they confront the very real possibility of being abandoned forever in this unforgiving environment.

As the CEO’s cunning plan unfolds, Dr. Sommerfield finds herself in a desperate predicament, stranded alongside two innocent children who just so happen to be the CEO’s own adopted sons - their blindness a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences wrought by his own consortium’s catastrophic actions. The CEO’s Machiavellian strategy is nothing short of diabolical: by orchestrating Sommerfield’s kidnapping and isolation, he hopes to emotionally manipulate her into producing a report that transcends mere statistics, one that truly captures the human cost of the disaster. But just as the stakes seem insurmountable, the CEO reveals his shocking familial connection to the children, leaving Sommerfield reeling from the weight of his revelation.

As she struggles to come to terms with this new information, the CEO presents her with an unexpected olive branch: a first-class ticket to Rome, where she is invited to visit the iconic Santissima Trinità dei Monti convent - a sacred space that has long held significance for him. Specifically, he hopes to share in her awe at the convent’s stunning cloister, adorned with an enigmatic anamorphic fresco of Saint Francis of Paula communing with nature beneath a tree. With the CEO’s future hanging precariously in the balance, Sommerfield makes a heartfelt plea for him to join her on this journey instead of surrendering to his inevitable downfall - but he remains resolute, convinced that his capture is only a matter of time.