In a squalid South American village, where desperation and poverty reign, a group of men live on the fringes of society. Among them is a Frenchman who has fallen on tough times, trying to eke out a living in this unforgiving environment. The village, largely detached from the civilization, becomes a melting pot of various characters, each with their own stories of despair and hope for a better life. These men are about to be presented with an opportunity that could change their bleak circumstances, albeit at a high and potentially deadly cost.

An American oil company, operating near the village, faces an emergency when one of its oil fields catches fire. The only way to extinguish the blaze is by using explosives to deny the fire oxygen. However, the explosives are stored in a remote location, requiring transportation across treacherous terrain. The company decides to hire four men from the village, offering them a substantial payout to undertake this perilous mission. The job involves driving two trucks over mountainous roads, through jungle paths, and across dilapidated bridges, all while carrying the highly volatile nitroglycerine necessary for the task. The daunting and dangerous journey not only promises a way out of their financial hardships but also puts their lives on the line, testing their courage, skills, and determination to survive against all odds.