The North American multimillionaire Douglas Tompkins, founder of “North Face” and “Esprit” is today a fervent nature conservationist and activist. He and his wife Kristine have bought nearly a million hectars of land in South America and transformed it into private nature sanctuaries. While receiving awards in the western world for his dedication, locals resent the saviours of pristine wilderness as eco-colonialists preventing progress. In the small town of Chaiten where Tompkins main office is situated, people are disapproving of the rich tourist’s environmental activism.
The conflict between neighbours breaks out as the government plans a road to cut right through Tompkins’ Parque Pumalin. This first and major project of the conservationist is like a barrier of wilderness separating the South from the North of the country. While the people of the impoverished Province of Palena want the road to get connected to the more affluent North, Tompkins sees it as an ecological crime endangering his work.
Amidst this clash of mindset and values a volcano situated in the middle of Pumalin erupts and everyone evacuates. The town of Chaiten gets largely destroyed, Tompkins residence is damaged but sound.
In front of the awesome backdrop of the rainforest a human and ecological drama unfolds because mother nature astonishingly lays down the law.

“A love affair with the fabled medium of water”

“A documentary as superfluous as swimming itself, and just as much fun”

The rhythm and style of the film entice viewers into immersing themselves into this stream of images and fascinating facts”

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