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Devil's Playground (2002) 7.0
Amish teenagers experience and embrace the modern world as a rite-of-passage before deciding which life they will choose. Director:Lucy Walker |
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Title: Devil's Playground (2002)
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Cast
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Velda Bontrager | ... |
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Mark Bontrager | ... |
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Dewayne Chupp | ... |
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Dylan Cole | ... |
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Matt Eash | ... |
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Sally Fisher | ... |
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Marty Fry | ... |
Himself
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John Groff | ... |
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Lisa Groff | ... |
Herself
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Andy Herschberger | ... |
Himself
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Joann Hochstetler | ... |
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Jesse Kaufman | ... |
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Carol Lambright | ... |
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Dale Lambright | ... |
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Ervin Lambright | ... |
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Amish teenagers experience and embrace the modern world as a rite-of-passage before deciding which life they will choose.
Taglines:
Which path will they choose?Genres:
DocumentaryParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
11 January 2002 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Djævelens legeplads See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color
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Written by Doug DeAngelis and Kevin Haskins (as Kevin Donpe)
Performed by Messy
Published by Luscious Dog Music (BMI)
By Arrangement with Blast Management
See more »
Did You Know?
Soundtracks
"Shadowlight"Written by Doug DeAngelis and Kevin Haskins (as Kevin Donpe)
Performed by Messy
Published by Luscious Dog Music (BMI)
By Arrangement with Blast Management
See more »
Lucy Walker presents a view into a community that is rarely glimpsed by outsiders. The Amish community, tightly knit as it is, has little use for the "English" world outside. I was very intrigued by the premise of a film following young Amish people through the rite of passage of Rumspringa, wherein they discover what kind of people they want to be, and decide whether to join the Amish church.
The view given by Walker is largely unbiased; she presents the viewer with a portrait of several Amish youths and their decisions to join the church or to remain in the english world. The film focuses mainly on Faron, a youth who has gotten himself into trouble with drugs, and she does not judge him or criticize him. Rather, we see his actions and are told of his choices, and are left to draw our own conclusions and wonder what will become of him.
I found this film to be quite well done, and unlike some of the other reviewers, I don't think it felt staged or stilted. I found myself thinking about it long after I'd seen it, and wondering what had happened to the people whose lives it followed.
I recommend this film, and feel that as a debut, it is quite an achievement. Some of the moments actually reminded me of Harmony Korine's work; it has a subtle air of discontent and uncertainty. Well done. ****/*****.