Play Movie (2011): Where to watch and stream online

Play

2011, Movie, 1h 58min

Based on real events, this provocative exploration of group and racial dynamics centers on a band of Black teenagers in Gothenburg who concoct an elaborate game of deception, manipulation, and humiliation in order to steal cell phones from white and Asian Swedish boys. Explosively controversial in Sweden for its interrogation of the relationship between race and power, PLAY finds Östlund at his most challenging and unsettling.

Country: Denmark,Sweden,France,Germany

Director:

Cast:

Reviews

Critic Henry Barnes

rated

A group of African immigrant teenagers toy with a pair of younger white kids in Ruben Östlund's scathing drama.

Read full review at The Guardian

Critic Patrick Peters

rated

...technically distinctive and utterly compelling in its analysis of Swedish attitudes towards race.

Read full review at Empire

Critic Niels Roe

rated

...et egensindigt mesterstykke i rendyrket realisme og i mange scener udviskes skellet fuldstændigt mellem det virkelige og iscenesatte.

Read full review at Cinemazone

Critic Andreas Samuelson

rated

...en av årets mest intressanta och relevanta svenska filmer.

Read full review at Moviezine

Critic Caroline Ringskog Ferrada-Noli

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Filmen har ingen knorr och den rasistiska sörja som avtäcks är inte vacker. Filmen är det däremot.

Read full review at Nöjesguiden

Frequently asked questions

What is Play about? Toggle content

"Play" is a gripping drama that delves into the complexities of human behavior, particularly in the context of group dynamics and social norms. Inspired by real-life events, the film follows a group of teenage boys who use an elaborate scheme to rob their peers, employing sophisticated role-playing tactics that blur the lines between fact and fiction. With unexpected twists and turns, the story explores themes of power, manipulation, and the fragility of social hierarchies. As the characters navigate their way through a series of tense and often surreal situations, the film challenges the viewer to question their own assumptions and biases, leading to a thought-provoking and unforgettable cinematic experience.

Where can I stream Play? Toggle content

You can stream Play on: The Criterion Channel

What movies are similar to Play? Toggle content

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as Play include Fire with Fire, Unthinkable, Prisoners, The Accountant, Law Abiding Citizen, Live by Night.

When was Play released for streaming? Toggle content

Play was released for streaming on November 1, 2021.