Unruly

Set in 1933 Copenhagen during the interwar era, the film depicts a society with rigid gender roles and rising state authority. The period precedes significant social reforms, with institutions policing female behavior and a harsh approach to punishment and sterilization. The era's restrictions amplify Maren's struggle for autonomy.

Copenhagen, the Danish capital, serves as the bustling urban backdrop with jazz clubs and late-night parties that frame Maren's restless spirit. The story also crosses to Sprogø, a remote island home turned institution where the state exerts its control over young girls. The setting juxtaposes crowded city energy with the stark, controlled environment of the reform facility.

🔒 Autonomy

The central conflict revolves around the control of Maren's body and life choices by state institutions. The characters resist rigid judgments and seek personal space to breathe, love, and define themselves beyond labels. The film scrutinizes how laws and social pressure can crush individual aspirations, especially for young women.

🕯️ Resistance

Maren and Sørine navigate a system designed to break their will, choosing small acts of defiance. Their attempts to escape or subvert routine interviews reveal a quiet, persistent pushback against dehumanizing procedures. The narrative emphasizes endurance and solidarity in the face of oppression.

⚖️ State Power

The story exposes how authorities normalize coercive measures, including detention, isolation, and sterilisation, to regulate female behavior. The legal framework acts like a machine that processes girls into compliant subjects. The consequences highlight the political dimensions of gendered control.

🪪 Identity

The film explores how stigma and institutional labels shape self-perception. Maren's defiance is an assertion of identity in a world eager to categorize and limit her. Sørine's path also questions whether personal identity can survive under coercive rules and procedural gaze.