In 2003, United Nations' Special Representative in Iraq, Sérgio Vieira de Mello, is a victim of a bombing and becomes trapped in the basement of the hotel where he was working in Baghdad.

Against the advice of his girlfriend and co-worker Carolina (Ana de Armas), Sergio decides to go to Baghdad after the 2003 invasion of Iraq in order to help Iraqis achieve independence and negotiate the withdrawal of American troops.

Later, the U.S. pulls out of Iraq leading to a long Civil War, but Sergio's gravely injured colleague Gil (Brian F. O'Byrne) survives despite having both legs amputated, and Carolina returns to her justice work in Rio.

In July 2018, it was announced Wagner Moura, Ana de Armas, Garret Dillahunt, Brían F. O'Byrne, Will Dalton and Clemens Schick had joined the cast of the film, with Greg Barker directing from a screenplay by Craig Borten, with Netflix distributing.

The website's critics consensus reads: "While the real-life story that inspired Sergio is certainly worthy of a biopic, its misguided approach to its noble subject adds up to a disappointingly shallow drama.