Katsumi Hosokawa (Ken Watanabe) is a successful Japanese businessman who loves opera, especially American opera star Roxanne Coss (Julianne Moore). A poor unnamed Latin American nation entices Hosokawa to come to their nation and open a factory in an impoverished area. They entice him by hiring Roxanne Coss to sing at their dinner party. During the event, rebel forces take over the building, but alas, the President was not there.

They hold the people hostage and demand the release of political prisoners. The hostages and rebels form friendships and romances.

This is a drama that is about the character of the noble poor rebels. The ending leaves you a bit hollow.

Guide: No nudity.

It almost sounds so definitive if you say or write something like that. In this case you have a story revolving around a singer that finds herself in quite the precarious situation. I wasn't sure if this was based on a true story, it does seem to be based on a novel and as you can tell, I have not read that. It's supposed to be quite gripping and emotionally more invested ... the reader I reckon as much as the writer.

That doesn't mean that the movie is bad. It has quite a few punches and it is not afraid to pull them. Weird situations (like applause in the midst of a horrible or at least tragic situation to say the least) and an ending that might not leave everyone with a good feeling (cannot compare it to the novel) ... very well played from all the actors and a decent tension that builds towards the climax I already mentioned ...

There appear to be a lot of "haters" because of what this movie is not about. What it is about is the relationships that develops between 2 groups, between terrorists and their captives (perhaps "Stockholm Syndrome"?). While the movie is not as good as the novel, it is very good.