Ray Winstone stars in this British crime drama directed by Alan Clarke. Set in the 1970s, the film follows Carlin (Winstone) as he navigates life inside a borstal. Faced with the brutality of the guards and his fellow young offenders, Carlin fights his way to a leadership role and asserts his dominance over the wing. However, he quickly discovers the system is much too powerful to be defeated, as several of his friends succumb to despair.