Synopsis

It’s the last day of school in a small Polish town in the middle of nowhere. Gabrysia would like to finally confess her love to Szymek. In the bathroom, the experienced Marta gives her tips on how she should go about doing this. Nothing, however, is to come out of this supposed private meeting, as Szymek turns up with his friend Czarek. Both boys make fun of the girl and then disappear. They planned to spend the rest of the day playing computer games, but the electronics store in the local shopping centre is closed. Out of pure boredom the two teenagers kidnap a three-year-old boy. What follows will leave viewers speechless. With the help of numerous amateur actors, Bartosz M. Kowalski succeeds in presenting an authentic insight into the family life of his protagonists, a family life in which traces of the roots of severely abnormal behaviour are to be found. But he cannot explain the phenomenon of excessive childhood violence. The film’s storyline is based on true events. At the premiere, Playground received great praise and the production was internationally acclaimed. Variety’s opinion: “If San Sebastian were to give a prize for its most shocking film, Playground would surely be the clear winner.”

Guests

Bartosz M. Kowalski

Bartosz M. Kowalski

Director and scriptwriter Playground

In Vienna: March 24-25