Play (2011)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 118 minuten / 113 minuten (director's cut)
Country:
Sweden / France
Directed by: Ruben Östlund
Stars: Anas Abdirahman, Sebastian Blyckert and Yannick Diakité
IMDb score:
7,1 (7.012)
Releasedate: 26 June 2011
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Play plot
In the center of Gothenburg in Sweden, a group of African youths, between the ages of twelve and fourteen, committed crimes against other children. They robbed children on some 70 occasions between 2006 and 2008. The thieves used an elaborate plan called the "Brother Trick", using advanced role-playing and gang rhetoric. They never had to resort to physical violence or threats. 'Play' is an observation about group dynamics and its effects on individual behavior, based on true incidents of bullying. The film deliberately plays with the prejudices, and the expectations that it will all end badly.
Actors and actresses
Yannick
Sebastian
Kevin
John
Abdi
Anas
Alex
Nana
Pojke i köpcenter
Pojke i köpcenter
Reviews & comments
Movsin
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- 8286 messages
- 8441 votes
Very special film, in which all scenes were shot with a fixed camera. In the beginning you get the pressure of having to deal with a kind of documentary on the basis of a camera set up in public places.
Very quickly, however, it becomes clear that these are street crimes, often wrongly referred to as "petty" crimes without considering the psychological consequences for the victims.
For a moment the film threatens to become a bit long-winded, but there are still enough strong scenes left, such as this one on the tram where the puss are at their best, as well as the triumphant restaurant visit with a lot of cynical bullying and that people literally shit their pants proves a panic fear of the victim...
The final scenes contain some conclusions, or say points of contention, where immigration and racial discrimination are concerned.
In any case, with the caution with which these concepts are approached in our region, I think this "Play" is quite a daring film. However, the fact that it is based on true events naturally weakens any radical position.
Anyway, actually I found this work, despite the serious nature, sometimes quite funny, "the cradle", "the antics in itself on the tram", the race...and I also noticed that the detachment - caused by fear ? - was underlined several times by the public and bystanders of the "hostage-taking".
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
In terms of content, quite an interesting film about a youth gang that terrorized and robbed other children. Fear and intimidation were ideal means of getting what they wanted without having to use physical force.
It is striking how little reaction there was from the environment. And if there was, it was nipped in the bud pretty quickly. Indeed a fairly convincing cast who took their roles very well. One of the best scenes I found was when the three young boys were caught evading fare. They were totally distraught…
Not entirely convinced of the film, however. Lots of long dead moments. Very strange, meaningless scenes such as that child's cradle on the train. It is remarkable that in the end the political correctness came up with that lady.
Translated from Dutch · View original
james_cameron
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- 7060 messages
- 9825 votes
Interesting but rather static and repetitive observation about group dynamics and their effects on individual behaviour, based on real-life cases of bullying in Gothenburg, Sweden. The young cast does an excellent job and the film has sensible things to say, but the pace is so slow and the camerawork is so monotonous that there is simply too little to experience. Fortunately, director Ruben Ostlund would come up with some much better films than this next.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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