Playground

Some films are difficult to watch because of what they remind you of. Playground is one of those films. School bullying is an extremely triggering subject for me. When I was at school, there was a boy who was bullied so relentlessly that he eventually jumped off a cliff. His body was only found a week later. It is something that has stayed with me throughout the years.

I wasn't one of the people bullying him, but that doesn't make the memory any easier. I was part of the group that witnessed what was happening and chose to look the other way. We saw it happening. We knew something was terribly wrong. Yet, like so many bystanders, we did nothing meaningful to stop it.

And that is precisely why Playground is so difficult to watch. It understands that bullying is not always about one obvious villain and one helpless victim. It is also about the fear of becoming the next target and the disturbing normalisation of cruelty. Most importantly, it examines the silence of those who witness it. There is very little room to escape, either for the characters or for the viewer.

What makes the film particularly effective is its refusal to offer easy answers or sentimental resolutions. It doesn't need to exaggerate anything. The everyday cruelty is already horrifying enough.

Perhaps the most uncomfortable question the film leaves behind is not simply why children bully, but why so many others allow it to happen. And what responsibility do we carry when we witness someone being destroyed…

I really enjoyed this. Reminds me of something I might see from the Dardennes brothers.

This was an interesting watch. The thing I liked most about this movie was the perspective it puts you in, along with the great performances from the young cast. It does a great job at immersing you in the main character's role and perspective. Even the environment adds to this realistic point of view. That said, this same perspective felt claustrophobic at times, and maybe that was the Director's intention, but personally I wish there weren't so many out of focus takes and to expand the view to see more of this world that the Director created. But again, that's just my personal opinion. I still appreciate this movie for its unique way of conveying the story and characters. I also wish there were more special features. The essay is pretty insightful and a great addition to this release.

One of those movies that pulls you in immediately and never lets you relax

Great looking film! Dark and disturbing and a bit of funny. My kind of film! And of course top quality packaging from OCN!