King of Devil's Island 2011

At the Bastøy prison island for young offenders, the latest arrival, Erling “C19”, quickly forms a bond with Olav (“C1”) in the face of harsh realities. Under the stern rule of warden Håkon, Erling navigates the brutal winter and the continuous mistreatment from the staff, particularly the despised unit manager Bråthen. During their time in this oppressive environment, Olav witnesses Bråthen’s predatory behavior towards Ivar, a vulnerable and timid boy referred to as “C5,” in the laundry room.

When Olav bravely reports this to the warden, he and Erling find themselves subjected to severe punishment, and C5 is assigned tasks far from Bråthen. The horror escalates, and Ivar, unable to cope with the prospect of facing his tormentor again, tragically takes his own life by drowning in the frigid waters of the beach.

To the boys’ relief, Bråthen is dismissed after this incident, igniting a sense of hope among them. As Olav prepares for parole and a chance at freedom, he unexpectedly crosses paths with Bråthen, who has been temporarily removed from the island. In a surge of anger and desperate protection for their friend, Olav and Erling confront Bråthen, leading to their punishment and placement in freezing solitary confinement. Fortunately, they are rescued by Bjarne, one of the few boys who remains as a caretaker on the island.

Olav’s quest for vengeance against Bråthen sparks a massive uprising among the boys, as they overthrow their captors. The prison is ransacked, and Bråthen is subjected to brutal retaliation, including being hanged in a barn. However, Erling demonstrates compassion by saving Bråthen from the fire that engulfs the barn. In response to the chaos, a navy ship intervenes to quash the rebellion.

Although Olav and Erling manage to flee across the icy fjord towards the mainland, tragedy strikes when Erling falls through the ice near the shore and succumbs to the freezing water. Later, we see an older Olav, now part of a ship’s crew, watching wistfully as they drift past Bastøy island, a haunting reminder of his past.