{"product_id":"playground","title":"Playground","description":"Product Description\n\nIn this debut feature by writer-director Laura Wandel, the everyday reality of grade school is seen from a child's-eye-view as an obstacle course of degradation and abuse. Following 7-year-old Nora and her big brother Abel, we see Nora struggling to fit in before finding her place on the schoolyard. One day, she notices Abel being bullied by other kids, and though she rushes to protect him by warning their father, Abel forces her to remain silent, while he endures more humiliation and harassment by his peers. Transposing the gritty realism of such filmmakers as Jacques Audiard and the Dardennes Brothers to the inner world of kids, Wandel crafts an empathetic and visceral portrait of the cruelty of children, and the failure of adults to protect them. Shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Film.\n\nReview\n\nCritic's Pick! [A] perfect hour and 12 minutes....a knockout, as flawlessly constructed as it is harrowing. A work of striking integrity and force, Wandel is... telling a story that in its piercing, sensitive detail and life-shaping arc is as familiar as yours and mine. --Manohla Dargis, The New York Times\n\nA must-see drama about school bullying. A sharply chiseled, wrenchingly observed first feature written and directed by Laura Wandel.... Vanderbeque gives what may be the most fully formed child performance in recent memory. --Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times\n\nA gut-punch of a film that is not so much a portrait of schoolyard bullying as it is a sensory immersion straight into the heart of children abusing other children physically and emotionally, Playground is a sit-up-and-take-notice blend of outstandingly natural performances enhanced by spot-on cinematic choices. Tough subject matter sensitively handled in this Cannes Un Certain Regard premiere distinguishes Belgian newcomer Laura Wandel as as a talent to watch. --Lisa Nesselson, Screen Daily\u003cbr\u003eASIN: B09WYYN8WC\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: DBV.B09WYYN8WC.A\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Acceptable\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Maya Vanderbeque|Günter Duret|Karim Leklou|Laura Verlinden|Laura Wandel\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case will show wear, and may be in library packaging. Ships fast!  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dream Books Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41422677835834,"sku":"DBV.B09WYYN8WC.A","price":11.36,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/6011\/0138\/files\/B09WYYN8WC-0.jpg?v=1779127460","url":"https:\/\/shop.dreambooksco.com\/products\/playground","provider":"Dream Books Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}