Denzel Washington realizes that Dakota Fanning is losing her swim meets because of her reaction to the starter gun, something which he intends to help her overcome.An ex-Marine afflicted with a harsh, hopeless take on reality travels to Mexico City to act as personal bodyguard for a wealthy family afraid of a kidnapping plot. The young daughter of the clan manages to melt his icy heart, and he begins to treasure life again. When she is kidnapped, he channels his near-insane rage into the pursuit of her captors. Based on A.J. Quinnell’s novel Man on Fire.