Sanctuary

In the summer of 1968, 14-year-old Wolfgang is deported to Freistatt, a Christian educational facility notorious for its harsh conditions and corrupt staff, after being caught showing his stepfather's pornography magazine to his friends. There, he faces physical and emotional abuse at the hands of supervisors like Brother Wilde, who rules the institution with an iron fist. As Wolfgang struggles to maintain his dignity in the face of overwhelming cruelty, a letter to his mother becomes a desperate plea for freedom and rescue, but ultimately proves futile. The film builds towards a devastating climax as Wolfgang's spirit is shattered by the trauma he endures at Freistatt, culminating in one of the most shocking scenes in the history of German cinema.