Sentenced to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena finds himself alone in the world, unable to read or write. Alone in jail, he soon comes under the influence of a group of Corsicans who dominate the prison. Through a series of missions, Malik toughens himself and gains the trust of the Corsican faction. This gripping narrative earned the film the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes and an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film.