After his graduation from the
University of Toronto, journalist Jay Bahadur tries in vain to gain a foothold in the profession. Still living with his parents, he stays afloat with unsatisfactory activity conducting surveys for product placing in supermarkets. His chance comes when his journalistic idol Seymour Tolbin inspires him to realize his dream of journalism, not in a conventional way through a post-graduate university education, but through an exciting mission to investigate the backgrounds of piracy in
Somalia. By contacting various news services in Somalia, Bahadur makes contact with a reporter, Mohamad Farole, whose father is the President of Somalia. They welcome him and provide him with lodgings during his stay. A minder is assigned to him, Abdirizak, known as Abdi. Abdi tells Bahadur about the "badaadinta badah". He describes them as "Saviors of the sea. They are like Coast Guard. You can never call them pirates." Bahadur's room overlooks a street that leads to the local market. He sees a passing woman, Maryan, who sells khat, a drug that is useful as payment for interviews with alleged pirates. Maryan is also the wife of one of the alleged pirates. While Bahadur is successful with interviewing two pirates, Boyah and Garaad (the latter Maryan's husband), his reports to
Avril Benoit from
CBC Radio are not published. Avril tells him that CBC will pay for an interview with hostages on a ship. An attempt is made by Abdi to secure an interview with hostages on the German freighter Victoria, being held in a harbor at Eyl. However, after Bahadur pressures the contacts, the ship leaves overnight. In the meantime, the story of
Captain Phillips and the drama of the
Maersk Alabama hijacking unfolds. Bahadur's father and his Somali contacts advise Bahadur that it is no longer safe for him to stay in Somalia. On his return to Canada, Bahadur is approached by Agent Brice from the
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), seeking insights into the situation in Somalia. There is a family celebration to welcome Bahadur home. Later, when Bahadur is living in
Kenya, he meets with a CSIS committee as they seek his advice through his unique experience. His book about the pirates is a bestseller. Bahadur explains that the Somalis do not need warships off their coast. They need to be recognized for their complex but honorable culture. ==Cast==