Brokedown Palace

Brokedown Palace is a 1999 American drama film directed by Jonathan Kaplan, and starring Claire Danes, Kate Beckinsale, Bill Pullman and Lim Kay Tong. It deals with two American friends imprisoned in Thailand for drug smuggling. Because it presents a critical view of the Thai legal system, most scenes were filmed in the Philippines however, some panoramas and views were filmed in Bangkok. Its title is taken from a Grateful Dead song written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter from their 1970 album American Beauty.

The two girls are interrogated by the Thai police and Darlene is tricked into signing a confession, which is written in Thai and which Darlene is unable to understand. At their trial, they beg for mercy and are given a 33year sentence instead of the usual life sentence in prison. In prison, the girls are advised to seek out Henry Greene Bill Pullman, aka Yankee Hank, an expatriate American attorney living in Thailand.As the girls try to deal with the violence and squalor of prison, Hank begins work on their case. He tracks down another girl who had been used as an unwitting drug mule by Nick Parks, but is warned that the smuggler has friends in high places. Hank arranges a deal with a corrupt prosecutor whereby the girls will receive a pardon if they confess to having lied about Parks involvement. However, the prosecutor reneges on the deal after the girls confess. Desperate, and realizing that Darlene will not survive their time in prison, Alice begs the King of Thailand to allow her to serve both of their sentences in exchange for letting Darlene go. The deal is accepted and Darlene is released, where she promises to continue working with Hank to try and free Alice. ........

Source: Wikipedia