Ruben Ostlund' Play is an opaque examination of race, bullying, and manipulation, which tells the story of Yannick, a young immigrant, who along with his friends target a trio of a presumably wealthier kids, two of which come from Swedish backgrounds. Yannick and his friends claim that one of these boys stole their friends' phone, luring the impressionable children outside of the city, where they use elaborate means to eventually steal almost all of their belongings. Play is a film that I struggled to get through, a film thats monotony creates a tedious experience of more of the same. The film's intentions feel important and essential, but the film is just far too long for such a simple story construct where the protagonists and antagonists feel far too easily defined for 95% of its running time. From a style standpoint, Play is an impressive achievement, with Ostlund using the long shot to chilling effect, creating an atmosphere that is quietly dangerous, giving off an ominous atmosphere where impending violence feels palpable even though it never actually comes, at least in the way you'd expect. The film seems to want to keep a level of ambiguity around the whole situation when it comes to Yannick and his friends and their treatment of the other kids, but id' argue it never manages this, with it becoming pretty clear through Yannick and his friends actions that they are bullies, and the antagonists of this story. One of the most daring contemporary filmmakers working today, Ostlund's Play is another fascinating film that examines modern society in a unique way. While the film doesn't quite hit the mark, Play is still a fascinating, albeit tedious experience, one that thematically captures how inherent human selfishness breeds social division in society.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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