Mayan Indian peasants, thought of as nothing more than "strong arms", i.e., manual laborers, organize to improve their lives, but are found out by the Guatemalan army. After the army destroys their village and family home, a teenaged brother (David Villalpando as Enrique Xuncax and Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez as Rosa) just barely escape being massacred, and realize they must flee to "El Norte" ("the North", i.e., the USA). They get clandestine help from friends, and a bit of humorous advice from a veteran immigrant, on how best to travel through Mexico. By truck, bus, and other means, they arrive in Los Angeles, where they try to make a new life as young, uneducated, illegal immigrants. Irony and hardship occur throughout.