PLAY

Play is 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 physical violence.

Go here for a short clip of Play.

Venue: Cannes Film Festival (Directors’ Fortnight)
Sales: Coproduction Office
Production: Plattform, Coproduction Office, Parisienne de Production
Cast: Anas Abdirahman, Sebastian Blyckert, Yannick Diakite, Sebastian Hegmar, Abdiaziz Hilowle, Nana Manu, John Ortiz, Kevin Vaz
Director-screenwriter: Ruben Ostlund
Producers: Erik Hemmendorff, Philippe Bober
Director of photography: Marius Dybwad Brandrud
Production designer: Pia Aleborg
Editors: Ruben Ostlund, Jacob Schulsinger
Music: Saunder Jurriaans, Daniel Bensi
Running time: 125 minutes