White Material 2010

Maria Vial is a determined white French farmer who, alongside her ex-husband Andre and his ailing father Henri, is struggling to keep their coffee plantation afloat in an unnamed African nation amidst the turmoil of a modern-day civil war. The environment turns perilous as rebel forces, including child soldiers, draw closer to their land.

Despite a final plea from the French military urging her to evacuate for her safety, Maria clings fiercely to her roots, unwilling to abandon her family’s legacy. As chaos looms, a rebel DJ broadcasts incendiary messages, inciting the rebels against symbols of colonialism. In the face of escalating fear, Maria’s workers flee one by one, but her resolve remains unshaken. She refuses to leave the forthcoming harvest, which is only five days away, even as she embarks on a treacherous journey to find workers to help with the coffee crop.

The journey begins with her risking her life to navigate through armed bandits at roadblocks, ultimately hiring laborers in a nearby village. On her way, she collects her upbeat and mixed-race son, Jose, from school, whose mother is the housekeeper for Andre’s father.

Meanwhile, Andre attempts to negotiate with the local mayor, Cherif, who seizes the opportunity to persuade Andre to sign over the plantation to eliminate his debts. Back on the plantation, Maria searches for her lethargic son, Manuel, finding him dazed in bed and lamenting his lack of direction. After coaxing him to swim, Manuel becomes intrigued by a disturbance in the house and encounters two armed young rebels. They threaten him before fleeing, leaving him bewildered and traumatized.

As tension mounts, Andre continues to plead with Maria to flee the impending danger, but her focus remains on the harvest. In a twist of fate, Maria discovers a wounded rebel known as “The Boxer” hiding in a barn, whom she chooses to care for. That night, as she dreams of a moment shared with Cherif, the reality of her situation jolts her awake—there are reports of the Boxer being pursued as an enemy.

The plight escalates when the workers demand immediate payment but find the safe empty, likely raided by Andre. Under duress, Maria agrees to drive the workers back but is halted by a gang of young rebels adorned with her clothing. A protest leads to violence as one worker is shot and the truck is stolen. Maria learns of the rebels looting the local pharmacy and of a doctor being killed in the chaos.

In a shocking turn of events, Manuel betrays his family by guiding the rebels back to their home, leading to a night of debauchery among the young looters, who consume stolen supplies. As government troops reclaim control, a harrowing scene unfolds—innocent lives are tragically taken while Manuel is locked away and ultimately perishes in the flames.

Distraught in the wake of tragedy, Maria confronts her husband’s father and ultimately kills him in a moment of rage and despair. The narrative culminates with a lone rebel, clutching the Boxer’s beret, venturing into the wilderness, an emblem of the rebellion’s relentless spirit amidst the suffering wrought by war.