Drama

PLAYGROUND

2022
1 HR, 12 min
MAR 25 → APR 7

Details

Released February 11, 2022, Belgium

Drama

1 hour, 12 minutes

Film Movement

French with English subtitles

Starring

Maya Vanderbeque
Günter Duret
Karim Leklou
Laura Verlinden

Director

Laura Wondel

Film Information

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.

Full Cast

Maya Vanderbeque

Günter Duret

Karim Leklou

Laura Verlinden

Additional Credits

Laura Wondel Director

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Reviews

“In a perfect hour and 12 minutes, Playground tells the sweeping, intimate story of a child’s coming into consciousness.”

Manohla Dargis

The New York Times

“A must-see drama about school bullying. A sharply chiseled, wrenchingly observed first feature written and directed by Laura Wandel…. Vanderbeque gives what may be the most fully formed child performance in recent memory.”

Justin Chang

Los Angeles Times

“A gut-punch of a film that is not so much a portrait of schoolyard bullying as it is a sensory immersion straight into the heart of children abusing other children physically and emotionally, Playground is a sit-up-and-take-notice blend of outstandingly natural performances enhanced by spot-on cinematic choices. Tough subject matter sensitively handled in this Cannes Un Certain Regard premiere distinguishes Belgian newcomer Laura Wandel as as a talent to watch.”

Lisa Nesselson

Screen Daily