Burn Your Maps (2016) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A grieving family is pulled apart when a child's imagined Mongolian identity becomes an unauthorized journey into reality.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Family Losing Balance

Connor and Alise discuss marital grief, Wes's isolation, and Becca's uncertain educational future. Wes's growing identification with Mongolia reveals a widening gap between his inner world and his family's expectations.

Key Events

• Family Therapy Discussion — Connor and Alise discuss their children, marital grief, and Wes's social isolation. Characters: Connor Firth, Alise Firth, Wes Firth, Becca Firth Location: Therapy session
• Connor Seeks Marital Closeness — Connor wants their marriage to become intimate again after the loss of a child. Characters: Connor Firth, Alise Firth Location: Therapy session
• Becca's Financial Dilemma — Becca is accepted into two Northwestern programs, but neither may be affordable. Characters: Connor Firth, Alise Firth, Becca Firth Location: Family discussion
• Wes Builds Imagined Steppes — Wes spreads blankets across the stairs and creates a Mongolian world at home. Characters: Wes Firth Location: Firth family home
• Wes Wants To Be Mongolian — Wes says he wants to become Mongolian, alarming Alise. Characters: Wes Firth, Alise Firth Location: Firth family home

The Dream Finds A Witness

Wes is mocked at school but remains committed to his Mongolian dream. Ismail encourages him, then turns his story into a film project and begins arranging a trip.

Key Events

• Schoolmates Mock Wes — Other children mock Wes, but he remains determined to pursue his Mongolian dream. Characters: Wes Firth Location: School
• Ismail Encourages Wes — Ismail supports Wes's dream instead of treating his fixation as a problem. Characters: Wes Firth, Ismail Location: School
• Film Project Begins — Ismail uploads material about Wes and raises donations for “Lost Boy from Mongolia.” Characters: Ismail, Wes Firth Location: School and online campaign
• Trip Plans Are Formed — Ismail buys a camera and plans to take Wes to Mongolia. Characters: Ismail, Wes Firth Location: Ismail's planning space
• Parents Discover Unauthorized Trip — Alise and Connor learn that Ismail has arranged a trip with Wes without permission. Characters: Alise Firth, Connor Firth, Ismail, Wes Firth Location: Firth family home

Parents Against The Journey

Alise and Connor discover that Ismail has planned an unauthorized trip with Wes. Their confrontation fails to prevent Ismail and Wes from traveling to Mongolia.

Key Events

• Parents Confront Ismail — The parents accuse Ismail of arranging an overseas journey with their child. Characters: Alise Firth, Connor Firth, Ismail Location: Firth family home
• Wes Reaches Mongolia — Despite the parental objections, Ismail and Wes travel to Mongolia. Characters: Wes Firth, Ismail Location: Mongolia
• Batbayar Joins Journey — The travelers meet Batbayar, who helps them navigate Mongolia. Characters: Wes Firth, Ismail, Batbayar Location: Mongolia

Mongolia Beyond Imagination

Batbayar guides Wes and Ismail through Mongolia and challenges Wes's idealized beliefs about modern nomads. The search for goats and the destination of Tolbo continues despite a sick goat.

Key Events

• Nomad Reality Explained — Batbayar explains that modern nomads often wear ordinary clothes. Characters: Wes Firth, Batbayar Location: Mongolian travel route
• Wes Searches For Goats — Wes continues searching for goats and looks forward to reaching Tolbo. Characters: Wes Firth, Ismail, Batbayar Location: Mongolian countryside
• Tolbo Destination Pursued — Wes anticipates meeting Gantulga when the journey reaches Tolbo. Characters: Wes Firth, Ismail, Batbayar Location: Road toward Tolbo
• Goat Falls Ill — The journey becomes more difficult when a goat falls ill. Characters: Wes Firth, Ismail, Batbayar Location: Mongolian travel route

Separation On The Road

Ismail films an intimate kiss involving Alise and Batbayar, prompting Alise to order him away. Wes then boards a truck toward Tolbo, leaving the family separated and the journey unresolved.

Key Events

• Private Kiss Filmed — Ismail films an intimate kiss involving Alise and Batbayar. Characters: Ismail, Alise Firth, Batbayar Location: Mongolian travel camp
• Alise Orders Ismail Away — Alise orders Ismail to leave before Wes wakes up. Characters: Alise Firth, Ismail Location: Mongolian travel camp
• Wes Boards Tolbo Truck — Wes disappears onto a truck bound for Tolbo with Ismail and the sick goat. Characters: Wes Firth, Ismail Location: Mongolian roadside
• Ismail Calls Alise — Ismail calls Alise for help after Wes leaves on the truck. Characters: Ismail, Alise Firth Location: Mongolia and family home
• Connor Learns Of Travel — Connor learns that Wes is traveling through Mongolia and tries to make him return. Characters: Connor Firth, Wes Firth Location: Family home
• Family Remains Separated — The family is separated, and the outcome of Wes's journey remains unresolved. Characters: Alise Firth, Connor Firth, Wes Firth, Ismail, Batbayar Location: Mongolia and the Firth family home

Story Breakdown

• Family Grief — The Firth family begins under emotional and financial pressure.
  • Marital Distance — Connor wants renewed intimacy, while Alise says grief may take years to overcome.
  • Children's Futures — The parents discuss Wes's isolation and Becca's unaffordable Northwestern opportunities.
• Wes's Inner World — Wes creates an imagined Mongolian identity that alarms his family.
  • Steppes At Home — He uses blankets, clothing, toy goats, and toy eagles to recreate the steppes.
  • Identity Declaration — Wes says he wants to become Mongolian despite Alise's concern.
• Ismail's Encouragement — Ismail validates Wes's dream and transforms it into a public film project.
  • School Support — Ismail encourages Wes when other children mock him.
  • Film Fundraising — Ismail raises donations and buys a camera for “Lost Boy from Mongolia.”
• Parental Confrontation — The parents oppose Ismail's plan to travel with Wes without permission.
  • Unauthorized Plan — Alise and Connor discover that Ismail has arranged the journey.
  • Failed Intervention — Their accusations do not stop Ismail and Wes from traveling to Mongolia.
• Mongolian Reality — The journey introduces Wes to a country that differs from his imagined version.
  • Batbayar's Guidance — Batbayar helps the travelers navigate Mongolia.
  • Nomad Expectations — Batbayar explains that modern nomads often wear ordinary clothes.
• Roadside Separation — The journey's emotional and practical dangers culminate in the family's unresolved separation.
  • Sick Goat — A goat falls ill while Wes and Ismail continue toward Tolbo.
  • Truck To Tolbo — Wes disappears onto a truck with Ismail and the sick goat.
• Unresolved Return — Ismail calls Alise, Connor tries to make Wes return, and the outcome remains unknown.
  • Calls For Help — Ismail contacts Alise after Wes leaves on the truck.
  • Open Ending — The family remains separated while Wes's journey continues without a resolved outcome.

Directed by

Jordan Roberts

Key Cast

• Vera Farmiga — Alise Firth
• Jacob Tremblay — Wes Firth
• Suraj Sharma — Ismail
• Ramón Rodríguez — Batbayar
• Virginia Madsen — Victoria