Abel Morales is a Latin American immigrant in New York
City in 1981. He owns and operates his own heating oil business amid a social
and business landscape that is in decay. Corruption in his industry is rampant
to the point that the Assistant D.A. (David Oyelowo) is lumping him in with all
oil companies in an investigation. The city itself is witnessing its most
violent time ever. The radio news is constantly recounting the previous day’s tally
of violent crimes, a heavy load weighing the city down along with the cold
wintry mood set by director J.C. Chandor and his production designer John
Goldsmith and cinematographer Bradford Young.
