The Burning Plain

Synopsis: The Burning Plain follows the story of several different people separated by time and space -- Sylvia, a woman in Oregon who must undertake an emotional odyssey to rid herself of her past; Mariana and Santiago, two teenagers trying to piece together the shattered lives of their parents in a New Mexico border town; Maria, a little girl who goes on a border-crossing voyage to help her parents find redemption, forgiveness, and love; and Gina and Nick, a couple who must deal with an intense and clandestine affair... because they are both married.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
Director(s): Guillermo Arriaga
Production: Magnolia Pictures
  2 wins & 3 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.8
Metacritic:
45
Rotten Tomatoes:
36%
R
Year:
2008
107 min
$200,000
Website
574 Views


Get up.

What?

You fell asleep again.

Just 5 more minutes, please.

No... get up.

Hey.

Late night?

- I guess.

- Again?

- Again.

- Hm, same guy?

- No.

- Do I know him?

Maybe.

Does he know me?

Good morning everyone.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

Talk to me, Lawrence,

what we have for specials?

- Lobster in white wine sauce.

- Mh'hm.

- What else?

- Spinach and almonds.

Linguini in a tomato sauce.

That looks good.

More than 25 no-suger

for Marshalls wedding?

Welcome back,

Mr. and Mrs. Dunning.

- So nice to see you again.

- Nice to see you too.

You remember Sophie?

She'll escort you to your

usual table, have a lovely meal.

Follow me.

Sylvie, table six

needs help with wine.

Alright, thank you.

- Good afternoon.

- Hi.

Huh... Vivian just told me

you need a wine recommendation.

Yeah, we're having

the "Petite Filet".

Um...

I would... highly recommend

the 87 "Castle Chateau".

- It's a beautiful Bordeaux.

- Hm...

no, I haven't heard of it.

It's not on our list...

we have it on special reserve

down in the cellar...

I think you really

would enoy it.

Why, thank you,

that would be fantastic.

Be right back.

- Um, table 18 wanted their checks.

- Okay.

What's the matter?

Exuse yourself...

- and get Vivian to do it.

- You Sure?

Going out for a quick

cigarette, alright?

Okay.

That was great suggestion,

that "Chateau Castle.

It's one of my favorite.

Yeah, what other kind

would you recommend?

That'd be depending

on the meal.

Well, if that's okay to figure

that out, tonight over dinner?

I don't socialise

with customers.

This is where my father

and that f***ing slut burned.

How the fire start?

The cops said they left

the gas on and it exploded.

So, it was an accident?

Yeah...

That's what the Sheriff said.

So, he was f***ing

when he died.

Their bodies still stuck

togather because of the fire?

I had use a knife

to cut them appart.

And who was the b*tch?

Some weird woman,

from I don't kow.

Here's where they met.

Catholic pinko town.

Now, what're you doing?

I think this was going,

after dads head was burning.

Why'd you bring, Xavier?

Because he's my friend.

You bury your dad tomorrow

you're running a circus.

I'm running a circus, b*tch.

F*** you.

Hi, mama, aunt, Rebecca...

Did you fight with Cristobal?

No.

Because, I don't wanna hear

anyone fighting.

Now more than ever.

Okay.

That's my dad's whiskey.

Is it?

When the hell is he

gonna drink it?

Santiago?

- Excuse me, father.

- Cristobal.

Your mom ain't going

to the funeral.

Neither Rebecca and me

ain't going either.

This son of b*tch doesn't

deserve this funaral today, damn.

Take care of everything,

the both of you.

...protecting us from evil.

For thine

is the kingdom in Heaven...

forever and ever.

Amen.

In the name of the Father, the Son

and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

- Amen.

- Amen.

Who are they?

I don't know.

And now we bid farewell,

of our brother, Nick Martinez.

I hope your father's

rotting in hell.

That wetback piece of sh*t took

away the best thing I ever had.

Hey! Leave the boys alone.

Alone?

It's their father's fault

that my kids lost their mom.

And I hope you rot too.

What's the location?

There's a job over in

the Free Azt calcium area.

- Anybody interested?

- Good.

How much does the jop pay?

How much do you pay?

- It's 80 acres.

- Good, I'll do it.

The plane's ready to take off.

One, two, three,

four, five...

Maria, come on!

I'm coming.

Maria, let's go!

Maria, stop playing and do

what your papa tells you.

See you later.

- Do you fly?

- Yeah, I do.

Hey, Daddy, what up?

Hey, honey, we have a job.

- Can I stay with my friends?

- Sorry honey, we gotta go.

Please...?

- Please, dad.

- No, honey.

- Come on... Come on...

- Stop...

We gotta a job to do,

let's go.

Alright, we're ready

to take off.

You have the coordinates?

Yeah... I just remit it

to the G.P.S.

This is the farm area.

- Hello.

- Good day.

Santiago Martinez,

this is my partner.

- Nice to meet you.

- Hi.

This whole area, about 80 acres,

that need to be sprayed.

We also have a cabin

ready for you to use...

while you're doing this job.

It's over there, it has a

kitchen, you can make tortilla's.

- You need anything else?

- No, thank you.

- We'll be fine, See you.

- See you.

- See you.

- See you.

Hey, a question,

can we use the bike?

- Sure, use it.

- Great.

- What?

- Who's gonna use it first?

- Let's toss a coin.

- Toss the coin.

- Call it, heads or tails?

- Heads.

Tails.

- Go ahead and take my turn.

- Appreciate it.

You stay here and help him.

untill I get back.

Be back in a minute.

Hey, what's the matter?

You forget how this works?

- I'm gonna go buy some cigarettes.

- Okay, I'll finish my chores.

Good.

I'm sorry I'm late.

I... couldn't get away.

Don't worry.

Can I get in?

Sure.

Hi.

Not there...

Please.

If you want we could

do this some other day?

No. No.

It's okay.

Listen...

My cousin lend me his place.

I never been there.

But he tells me,

it's far from everything.

You wanna go?

It isn't the Hilton.

I want cereal, Mariana.

I wanted mine over easy.

Well, that's to bad, eat these

because I got 'em all done.

Hey, Mariana,

what's for dinner?

You can fix you and your

friends some cereals.

Hi, all.

The supermarket was packed.

The lines were wrapped

around the isles.

Did your daddy call?

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Guillermo Arriaga

Guillermo Arriaga Jordán is a Mexican author, screenwriter, director and producer. Self-defined as "a hunter who works as a writer," he is best known for his BAFTA-nominated script for 21 Grams and his ... more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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