With a promotion in the offing and his beautiful wife Nena (Prakriti Maduro) at his side, things couldn't be better for ambitious policeman Hector Mariscal (Gustavo Sánchez Parra). Before he can enjoy the good life, though, a final, top-secret assignment must be carried out: to transport-by rail-a highly toxic cargo across Bolivia's high desert backcountry and "dispose" of it in a remote indigenous village. With kindly engineer Klinger (Luis Bredow) guiding his beloved steam locomotive Federica, and presented with a crew of hapless cops and an unexpected young stowaway (Daniela Lema), Mariscal finds that there's much more on the line than he imagined in this sharp, energetic satire.

Bolivia's official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at this year's Academy Awards®, Julia Vargas-Weise's third feature is a lively rejoinder to that country's status as a dumping ground for the world's industrial waste. Rich in symbolism and in spirit, Sealed Cargo is a terrific ride through the seldom-seen Altiplano and a potent reminder of what really matters.

Julia Vargas Weise – Director (January 10 only)