Cell 211

Cell 211 is a 2009 Spanish-French prison film directed by Daniel Monzón from a screenplay by Monzón and Jorge Guerricaechevarría and based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Francisco Pérez Gandul. The film stars Luis Tosar, Alberto Ammann, Antonio Resines, Manuel Morón, Carlos Bardem, Luis Zahera, Vicente Romero, Fernando Soto, and Marta Etura. In the film, rookie prison guard Juan Oliver (Ammann) is forced to go undercover as a prisoner after he becomes embroiled in a riot led by Malamadre (Tosar). Plot Juan Oliver reports to work as a prison guard a day early. During his tour of the prison, a falling projectile knocks him unconscious and he is rushed to Cell 211. The projectile is revealed to be a diversion to allow the convicts to riot and hijack control of the prison. Aware of the impending violence, Juan's colleagues flee and leave him in the cell. When Juan awakens in the midst of the choas, he pretends to be new inmate convicted of homicide. He is brought to the leader of the riot, Malamadre, who takes Juan under his wing after Juan suggests variations to the riot which will better equip the prisoners for negotiation. In reality, Juan seeks to keep channels of communication alive with the other guards and an incoming SWAT team, who are preparing to storm the prison. Malamadre discovers that Basque terrorists associated with the ETA are being held in the prison, and seeks to use them as a political bargaining chip during negotiation. As news of the riot become public, a succession of other riots and demonstrations in the Basque Country follow. Afraid of political ramifications within the Basque Country, Spanish ministers hold back on exercising SWAT interference, leaving Juan alone in the prison.