Beyond Rangoon is set in 1988 Burma, a country ruled by a repressive military regime. Laura (Patricia Arquette), an American doctor, is touring there, trying to recover from her overwhelming grief over the murders of her husband and son back home. She meets a guide (U Aung Ko) who takes her to the country to escape the political turmoil of Rangoon. He is a former university professor with connections in the pro-democracy movement. Soon government troops are on their trail, and they have to run for their lives.

Laura taps the wild woman inside as she endures incredible physical and mental challenges. On this spiritual journey back to her vocation of healing, Laura learns about fearlessness, the power of nonviolence, and freedom. This film illustrates the truth of a saying of the Buddha: morality is the true beauty of a human being.