Playground is an often brutal depiction of childhood from first-time feature filmmaker Laura Wendal. We follow 7-year-old Nora, as she attempts to navigate school life with her bullied older brother Abel. Filmed entirely from the perspective of Nora, the camera never rises beyond her stature and we never leave the school premises, this film is a claustrophobic and at times relentless portrait of bullying. 

It paints a grueling picture of the potential long-term damages these experiences can have on a person. Even in the film’s sharp runtime, these children overgo dramatic changes to their character and it’s hard to watch without feeling an element of neglect from the responsible adults. Even though parents and teachers are present in the film, they are always somehow too distant to prevent the children’s predicament, and instead, Nora and Abel are forced to face their fight alone. 

Playground is a very raw portrayal of the ugliness of childhood, helped with fantastic performances from the lead and supporting child actors.

Playground is due for theatrical release in France 5th January 2022. UK release is not yet known.