This is the story of a tiny country that made a decision to do something that no other country had ever done -- it decided to abolish its army and declare peace to the world. And this is the story of a young boy who grew up in that country, and how he ended up challenging -- and sometimes even convincing -- the greatest powers in the world to follow Costa Rica's example. "Oscar Arias: Without a Shot Fired" is a Don Quixote-like saga with great historical touchstones -- Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, Cold War politics and Communism, Central American War and Peace. It follows a slight, academic, and most unlikely hero over the course of more than fifty years, as he travels the world in a quest to stop the spread of the weapons of war. In the end, it is a story about the triumph of reason, of the sparrow triumphing over the eagle, and how the impossible dream can sometimes come true.
Direction
Engle weaves archival footage with Arias's quiet charisma.
Production
Gorbachev and Brokaw appearances lend unexpected gravitas.
Director
Dawn Gifford Engle
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Costa Rica remains one of only 23 countries without standing armies; Arias helped draft their current constitution at age 24.
Engle directed the Nobel Legacy Film Series, making this essentially official hagiography — which explains the Tom Brokaw cameo.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
