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  • Drama

PLAYGROUND

  • 2022
  • 1 HR, 12 min
  • MAR 25 → APR 7
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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
Today’s Other Showings
THE MISANTHROPE (National Theatre)
7:15PM
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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

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Red and orange collage of horror movie images featured in Ross Fright Fest 2026.

Ross Fright Fest 2026

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David Naughton in a scene from An American Werewolf in London.

Friends of The Ross 45TH Anniversary Series

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10th Vision Maker Film Festival | Native American Film Series

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