Maria Alvarez, played by Catalina Sandino Moreno, is a 17 year old who falls into the sticky-sweet trap of seeking a quick escape from the drudgery and hopelessness of her mundane existence. She turns to drugs. Not using them, though, but smuggling them. Working as a drug mule offers her the chance at easy money.

But, like most young people, she dives into it headlong, without fully realising the risks and possible consequences. In fact, this movie really is about young people stumbling over their own poor judgements, and can be painful to watch, at times.

There are moments where one feels genuinely afraid for Maria. Mostly, though, there is just a real sense of the despair and desperation that fills the lives of these young Colombians.

In the spirit of keeping it genuine, all the acting in this movie is right on the mark.

Marston is apparently working on a screenplay along witrh Meera Nair, the acclaimed writer of the short story collection, Video.