Play

Name: Play
Genre: Drama
Released: January 14, 2015
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 81

2015

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Universal acclaim based on 8 Critic Reviews

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Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: January 14, 2015 | Not Rated

Summary: An astute observation based on real cases of bullying. In central Gothenburg, Sweden, a group of boys, aged 12-14, robbed other children on about 40 occasions between 2006 and 2008. The thieves used an elaborate scheme called the "little brother number" or "brother trick", involving advanced role-play and gang rhetoric rather than physicalAn astute observation based on real cases of bullying. In central Gothenburg, Sweden, a group of boys, aged 12-14, robbed other children on about 40 occasions between 2006 and 2008. The thieves used an elaborate scheme called the "little brother number" or "brother trick", involving advanced role-play and gang rhetoric rather than physical violence.… Expand

Director: Ruben Östlund

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 118 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Jan 15, 2015

It tests our presumptions, makes us squirm. Read full review

100

Michael Atkinson

Jan 15, 2015

It's the rare contemporary film that's as majestically and gruelingly rigorous in its form as in its thematic interrogations. Read full review

Ben Kenigsberg

Jan 15, 2015

It is provocative simply in showing how trust is gained and kept, even after the swindled kids have understood their robbers’ motives. Read full review

The Guardian Henry Barnes

Jan 15, 2015

The message is laid on slow and thick, but it's no less powerful for it. Read full review

Leslie Felperin

Jan 15, 2015

Pic is a little too pleased with its own evenhanded presentation of liberal moral conundrums, but there’s no gainsaying Ostlund’s remarkable achievement in coaxing entirely naturalistic perfs from his young core cast Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Jan 15, 2015

The ultimate effect of [Östlund's] studied techniques is more restricting than beneficial, which, combined with a protracted running time, faintly self-righteous air and a perplexing, misguided coda, produces a sense of letdown at the end despite the strength of much that has come before. Read full review

Empire Patrick Peters

Jan 15, 2015

May be contrived and overlong, but it is also technically distinctive and utterly compelling in its analysis of Swedish attitudes towards race. Read full review

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User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Nov 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is quite a bleak watch - the way its filmed is as if we're watching the group of young boys through the lens of CCTV, in the distance at a shopping centre, showing one end of a bus and train etc. it has the look and feel of a documentary film, only without a narrator explaining (giving more context to) what your seeing on screen.

There are some violent scenes which are a bit upsetting, in terms of the boys lashing out at one of their own. I suppose its about morality/social conscience and group dynamics in adolescents - it was somewhat thought provoking but I suppose if im to be totally honest, I felt it was lacking in plot direction to really hit home so to speak. I also suppose the irony is that (indeed maybe the main point was to make it clear that) such young people don't necessarily have a clear direction - being regarded as outsiders to an extent.

I suppose if your into sociology, this would perhaps be a relevant watch but it was a bit too random and a bit too bleak to especially appeal to me as such. Not a bad film but not a great one either.… Expand

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