Russell Price (Nick Nolte) is a prominent photojournalist covering the crisis of civil conflict in Nicaragua against its president Somoza. Initially he is there simply to snap the pictures, not to get involved. Things change for him when rebel leaders ask him to take a photograph of their leader Rafael, who is presumed dead. He can no longer stay neutral as he now becomes an enemy of the state and is hunted by the Nicaraguan army. Together with his friends Claire (Joanna Cassidy) and Alex (Gene Hackman) he also becomes involved in a love triangle, further deepening his personal difficulties.