Unruly

In 1933 Copenhagen, Maren is a rebellious teenager who dances to jazz in nightclubs and parties late to escape her squalid home life. Her behavior draws complaints from neighbors and catches the attention of authorities. When Child Services first arrives to interview her mother, a process that will separate her from her family begins.

Following the complaint, Child Services interview Maren's mother and decide to place Maren in a home for delinquent girls. The interview marks the first step toward her removal from her family. This move foreshadows her eventual transfer to Sprogø.

In the home, Dr. Wildenskov interviews Maren and views her as mildly mentally deficient and promiscuous. He recommends placement on the island home of Sprogø. The decision signals a long separation from her mother and a rigid, controlled environment.

On Sprogø, Maren shares a room with Sørine, who reports any infractions to staff hoping for an early release to see her daughter. The two form a tense dynamic under strict island rules. Maren begins to understand the severity of her confinement.

Maren is interviewed again on Sprogø but refuses to answer basic questions, realizing this will condemn her to a long stay. She begs for another interview, yet officials refuse. The refusal locks her deeper into the island's harsh regime.

When workmen visit the island, rough seas force them to stay overnight. Maren is drawn to one of the men, sleeps with him, and discovers she is pregnant. The pregnancy triggers even stronger control from the staff.

Maren is sent to the mainland to give birth, and her child is removed from her custody within days. While still in hospital, she learns she has been sterilised under a recently passed Danish law. The event highlights the coercive power of the authorities.

During a movie night on Sprogø, Maren and Sørine stage a diversion and attempt to escape via the projectionist's boat. They are stopped before starting the engine, and Maren jumps into the ocean. Staff are unable to locate her immediately.

The staff locate Maren's lifeless body in the water the following day after her jump. The tragedy underscores the brutal consequences of the island's regime. Sørine remains on the island under protective custody.

Eventually, Sørine is told she may leave the island only if she agrees to be sterilised. Desperate to see her daughter, she agrees and is placed as a maid with a frail elderly couple. This act becomes her ticket to life outside the Sprogø system.

After three years with the elderly couple, Sørine is told she is being released from Protective Services custody and she goes to meet her daughter Ellen. The reunion hints at a hopeful future beyond the island.

The film ends with Sørine and Ellen walking down a country road, signaling a fragile ongoing journey toward normalcy. The closing text reveals that the Sprogø home operated from 1923 to 1961, placing the actions in a wider historical frame.