Film Movement

Playground

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This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Beth Morris) is limited to 500 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.

In this debut feature by writer-director Laura Wandel, the everyday reality of grade school is seen from a child's-eye-view as an obstacle course of degradation and abuse. Following 7-year-old Nora and her big brother Abel, we see Nora struggling to fit in before finding her place on the schoolyard. One day, she notices Abel being bullied by other kids, and though she rushes to protect him by warning their father, Abel forces her to remain silent, while he endures more humiliation and harassment by his peers. Transposing the gritty realism of such filmmakers as Jacques Audiard and the Dardennes Brothers to the inner world of kids, Wandel crafts an empathetic and visceral portrait of the cruelty of children, and the failure of adults to protect them. Shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Film.

directed by: Laura Wandel
starring: Maya Vanderbeque, Günter Duret, Karim Leklou, Laura Verlinden
2021 / 72 min / 1.85:1 / French DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0

Additional info:

Region A Blu-ray
Bonus Short Film: Les corps étrangers (Foreign Bodies) Directed by Laura Wandel
Essay by film critic Rafa Sales Ross
English subtitles

Overall rating: 4.7272725 / 5 from 22 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: ["looks","film","performances","movie","kid","story","society","acting","viewing"].

Review highlights

Reviews

A very good movie

"A suffocating, unrelenting look at the cruel world of children, through their perspective. Very effective movie, in the vein of the Dardenne brothers."

— Fabrice B. (5/5)

Great!

"Great!"

— Richard L. (5/5)

Amazing film on bullying in the playground

"Incerdibly strong performances from the child actors. amazing. It´s a grim almost documentary feel to it. Filmed in the kids height so yes it makes you unvoluntarily go back to being a kid and all the memories start flooding. It´s not an easy watch as it´s hard to dismiss it as Just another movie. Very Highly Recommended"

— Hansi L. (5/5)

Not the easiest watch, but superb.

"The depiction of this film through children's eyes is remarkable. Like really really. The performances are exactly what they need to be. It is an excellent film, but wasn't an easy watch for me. Still, I'm glad to have a copy to share with other friends, if and when the time comes up. The slipcover is a pretty nice addition, but the special features are definitely lacking. Film 10/10 Release 7/10"

— Ben. Z. (5/5)

Great and disturbing

"Maybe the greatest film about bullying ever? This perfectly depicts the helplessness our society has in protecting the youngest most vulnerable members of society. This has the feel of a horror movie in its ability to create feelings of tension and anxiety. Sadly, the bullying on display here is not confined to Belgian society,."

— Brent B. (5/5)

Hidden Gem

"Strong realistic performances from the two lead child actors who play siblings responding differently to bullying on the playground. And delivers a satisfying story in a quick 72 minutes! Love how the slip tells a story. Get it while you can!"

— Scott F. (5/5)

Powerful

"Playground, directed by Laura Wandel, offers an unflinching look at the complexities of childhood through the eyes of seven-year-old Nora, who grapples with her brother’s bullying and the indifference of adults. The film’s immersive camerawork, keeping the perspective at Nora’s eye level, intensifies the emotional impact, making the school environment feel both intimate and oppressive . Its stark realism and powerful performances leave a lasting impression."

— Shawn M. (4/5)

Not so fun

"So glad this movie got a release. Such a great film, showing the tough challenges of childhood in school. Great performances by the kid actors. Worth checking out for sure."

— Michael L. (5/5)

"The World" isn't fun.

"Playground is shot at eye level to it's protagonist and in an uncomfortably detached way. This drama about bullying and the things that occupy that space is a unique and sympathetic view into the cruelty of youth and the importance of family. This is not for everyone, but for those who take the time to see it, this film will stick with you long after the last frame."

— Philip W. (4/5)

A nice little film with

"A nice little film with great child acting! really enjoyed the story and mood for this one."

— Charles S. (4/5)