Kristin Heien

They are convicted of murder, violence and kidnapping. At Bastøy they grow vegetables and chop trees. Is it the way out of crime? Benjamin is 28 and has been in and out of jail since he was 16. Life behind the walls is home to him. Trond has been a notorious torpedo (money collector), but wants to create a different life. Now they are looking for Bastøy, an open prison on an island in the middle of the Oslo Fjord. There are no high fences, walls or barbed wire here. Here the inmates are surrounded by water and wild animals. They grow their own food and practice living a normal life before they return to society. Will Trond and Benjamin have a chance to move on? Norway is known for having the world's most humane criminal care, but in the past year nearly 300 open prison spots have been closed.

Right now more than 100,000 young Norwegians between the ages of 19 and 29 are engaged in neither work nor studies. In DROPOUT we meet Danielle, Darie and Tiffany, who for different reasons find themselves in this situation. With empathy and insight, director Kristin Heien gives us a glimpse into some of the lives behind the statistics, and helps us understand why some people have a harder time adjusting to the demands of society than others. The result is a thought-provoking humanist documentary which offers valuable perspectives on modern-day Norway and lets us see the unemployment numbers in a new light.

Sonja struggles to get back on stage. In a state where everything is falling apart, the stage represents a place where she feels she is in control. With humor and warmth, the film paints a portrait of a woman who is losing her grip on reality.