Midnight Express

Billy Hayes is caught trying to smuggle 2 kilos of hashish out of Turkey. Initially he is sentenced to a relatively lenient 4 year jail term for possession.

4 years later, as Billy's release date nears, the prosecution succeed in having the crime changed from possession to smuggling, and the sentence increased from 4 years to 30 years.

Billy is transferred to a different jail, which houses hardened criminals. He suffers terrible abuse from both the wardens and fellow inmates. All hope seems lost.