In the closing months of World War II in a German Stalag prison camp, American POWs have to survive day-to-day through scheming and lies. When an African-American pilot is accused of murdering one of his fellow inmates, Lt. Tommy Hart (Colin Farrell) is charged with defending him. Hart's superiors (Bruce Willis among them) warn Hart not to dig too deep – for doing so would mean death to all prisoners in the camp.