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Devil's Playground More at IMDbPro »
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| Index | 22 reviews in total |
30 out of 31 people found the following review useful:
A Rare But Limited View of Amish Youth, 5 September 2003
Author:
Ralph Michael Stein (riglltesobxs@mailinator.com) from New York, N.Y.
To a large extent, the inherent friction between America's central majority
and diverse religious minority groups is controlled and channeled by a
matrix of Constitutional Law principles. Court decisions insure that
minority rights are protected against what often has been the mainstream's
desire or perceived need to force assimilation or even attempt destruction
through law or mob action. The latter has happened in American history with
regard to the Shakers and Mormons. Both groups and Southern snake-handling
churches have frequently encountered major legal restrictions. .
The Amish occupy a more protected place than some other Christian
fundamentalists. Living in large communities side by side with the
"english", as they call without distinction all others, their energy,
excellent and desired produce and products and reputation for orderly,
crime-free lives has insured respect. Temptation rather than persecution is
the main foe of the Amish commitment to a simple lifestyle.
Director Lucy Walker's documentary, "Devil's Playground" is a rare but
possibly too limited view of Amish life, largely in Indiana. The Amish
covet their privacy and most members of the church do not allow themselves
to be filmed or interviewed although strictures vary from community to
community. Generally, the Amish eschew using much of the apparatus of
American communal and political life. For instance, while they will not
send children to public school past the eighth grade, relief from compulsory
education laws through a Supreme Court decision only came about because
several Amish parents passively permitted others to litigate on their behalf
(Wisconsin v. Yoder).
"Devil's Playground" introduces the viewer to "rumspiga," the planned
release off the parental and community leash of teenagers on their sixteenth
birthday. According to the young men and women interviewed, virtually
anything goes during an indefinite period of freedom that can end in a few
months or go on to age 21. At some point each youth decides whether to
embark on a life outside Amish society or take church vows that are
considered inviolable once voluntarily assumed. Defectors are shunned by
family and friends if they leave the church after taking the
vows.
The film follows Amish youth to huge parties monitored by justifiably
concerned Indiana police. Sex appears to be a route for some but dancing
and excessive consumption of alcohol is a key activity for most, especially
the males. Some fall into the world of drugs, including dealing. Faron, a
clearly troubled young man, is followed by the camera crew from innocent
flirtation and all-night partying to serious drug taking to felony selling.
Subsequent threats to his life came after he cooperated with the
police.
The females seem to be more hesitant about unshackling fetters than males.
The boys all adopt everyday teen garb while the girls experiment with beer
and cosmetics but largely remain clothed in traditional attire.
Interestingly, many of the boys take on "english" girlfriends, a safety
mechanism that actually lessens the likelihood of their permanently
abandoning their community.
A number of Amish youths discuss their family relations and whether they
will join the church or adopt a new lifestyle. Many comments have a
rehearsed quality, not surprising when the speakers haven't been brought up
to freely express themselves.
A postscript notes that some ninety percent of Amish youth resolve to join
the church, giving up cars for buggies, t-shirts for bland work clothes and
beer for juice. One clear clue as to why the retention rate is so high is
the virtual total lack of intellectual curiosity or desire for education in
the Amish youth population. What seems to be a period of genuine freedom is
really a very clever release of people whose likelihood to question or rebel
is suitably repressed rather than advanced by an episode of largely aimless
partying.
What isn't clear from "Devil's Playground" is the extent to which Amish
youth in general go as hog wild as the participants in the documentary. The
young interviewees wanted the attention of the film-maker for reasons
ranging from narcissism to a need to self-justify life-altering decisions.
It would have been very useful to incorporate insights from non-Amish
scholars, including psychologists, who could discuss the teens' experiences
and responses in a measured objectivity.
But this is one fine documentary.
8/10.
17 out of 18 people found the following review useful:
Informative Yet Disturbing, 20 August 2006
Author:
fwomp from United States
Sex, drugs, heavy metal/rap music, Nintendo. These are not things one
would normally associate with the Amish, but there you go, it's time to
learn about DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND Most of us probably view the Amish as
isolationists and backward thinkers. They don't use electricity or
modern conveniences. They travel by horse and carriage. They dedicate
themselves to their church and community for life or are banished if
they give up the church and head out into the "English" world. This is
mostly true, except for one period in an Amish person's life.
At age 16, all children of Amish parents are given the option of
Rumspringa (Pennsylvania Dutch for "running around"). Rumspringa can
last minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even years, depending on the
individual. During this time they are allowed to do whatever they like,
which includes drinking, sexual relations, smoking, driving (cars), and
doing illicit drugs.
One such person is Faron, an 18-year-old son of an Amish minister. He's
been out of his parents' house for almost two years and gets involved
with crystal meth dealers in order to support his own drug habit. His
life spirals out of control, but his parents are helpless to do
anything about it because of the Rumspringa tradition. Faron has to
choose his own path. But with peer pressures so high, the decision is
not an easy one for kids who want to explore a world beyond the Amish
communities they grew up in. You can't help but cringe with fear as
Faron drops in and out of the drug culture, nearly gets himself killed
in a car accident, and eventually finds love and a decent job many
miles away from his parents.
Other kids have similar issues, but battle more with internal conflicts
than external pleasures and material things. One is Velda, a pretty
Amish girl who left her community and found depression nesting within
her. Trying to discover who she was without the help of her family and
her church leads her down some dark paths but she eventually succeeds
in life by finding a job and going to college; quite a surprise
considering the Amish don't educate their young beyond the 8th grade
level.
This documentary certainly was an eye-opener. Who would've thought that
the Amish deal with similar problems that non-Amish parents are forced
to deal with? The information gathered by the film makers is impressive
but limited, as the Amish become reclusive once they join the church.
But the kids have no such qualms about being filmed since they have yet
to take their oath.
I am disturbed mostly by the fact that the Amish don't educate their
young beyond a certain grade level because they feel it causes too much
"pride" (one of the seven deadly sins). But this also creates an
interesting paradox. If you don't educate your kids, they are destined
for menial jobs. The upside (I guess) is that this makes it difficult
to support themselves if they decide to try and make a go at living in
the outside world. Not surprisingly, the return rate from Rumspringa
back to the church is 90 percent.
14 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Thought-provoking; interesting subject matter, 24 July 2003
Author:
bean_invaders from Austin, TX
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. ****/*****.
10 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Intelligent, not exploitative, 19 January 2002
Author:
(utahfilmmaker@hotmail.com) from Utah
I thought for sure that a movie about Amish-teenagers-gone-bad would be a series of images of Amish kids dressed in traditional garb drinking, getting high, and sleeping around. I expected it to be a spectacle which would get old fast, and I went into the movie with this bias. It turned out to be one of the best documentaries I've seen in a while. For one thing, the director had the perfect balance of showing a broad social situation (rebellious Amish kids in general) and a more character centered story (the drug addicted Amish youth Faron). You're getting the factual information you need, as well as the emotional punch of what Faron is going through. The director is able to show very clearly the effect of Amish society on these kids without ever forcing a direct connection or being exploitative.
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Singular, Powerful Film- Why hadn't I heard more about this???, 4 August 2006
Author:
shiiteclintonite from United States
I just watched this through Netflix, based on a recommendation and can't believe I'd never heard of it before. Rather striking and amazing film. When has there ever been a film, (fiction or non) like this one before? I promise you that you had noooooooooo idea that the Amish could behave in this way and that it was acceptable -- A stunning doc! It opened my eyes in many ways. I had no idea that such a rigid, conservative culture could also possess such a wide-open and "liberal" component to their lifestyle. You want to applaud them and deride them almost simultaneously. And the fact that you are capable of holding two such contrarian feelings is a testament to the power of the director, Lucy Walker. She films everything with a steady, knowing hand. I was riveted. Why didn't I know about this movie? When is Ms. Walker making another film?!?
9 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Real view of what the Amish lifestyle is like, 23 March 2004
Author:
scarletminded from San Diego, CA
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
*May be spoilers, read at your own risk*
This documentary was a very real look into what Amish teens go through
trying to
decide if they want to become "English," the Amish term for people who live
in the
modern way of life or joining their families in the Amish faith, which is
very oppressive.
The parents allow their children to smoke, take drugs, drink, listen to
music, drive cars
(just the boys) and wear "English" clothes, starting at age 16 until they
decide if they
want to be with their families or be in the outside world. They live in a
half English/
Amish state during this time.
It is a right of passage that is used to show them how bad the outside world
is. With an
8th grade education and lack of work experience (the boys at least work
outside
the home, most girls don't even have outside work experience,) it is hard
for these teens
not to get into trouble and that is the main reason they return. No wonder
the Amish
consider the outside world to be sinful, they haven't given their children
the education
to check out a college, library or museum, or even to understand what a city
is, so no
wonder they party. They seem to have no other choice but to sit and play
video games
all day.
I grew up in this area and have seen this ritual first hand. I had to laugh
when a read a
critique here that said the girl who was dating Farron, who is the main
character of the
piece, couldn't be Amish. Don't they realize that the first thing a girl is
going to do who
wants to wear English clothing (which is a rare case, since most girls don't
wear English
clothing, but most boys do) is to go to the tanning salon? Tanning is a big
deal where I
grew up in Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana. Believe me, being pale
myself, I got
a lot of teasing due to my light skin. If they want to conform to other
teens, of course
they are going to tan themselves to a golden glow.
Plus, Germans aren't all blonde and blue eyed. It isn't like the village in
the Children of
the Damned! There are brown eyed Dutch and Germans with non-fair coloring.
Plus
some people bring their non-Amish boyfriends and girlfriends into the flock.
Statements
like that can be very ignorant and take away from how informative this
documentary is. I
wasn't listening to the music at all, I was listening to information about
the Amish,
which is what this documentary gives you.
I also learned that there are some Amish people living in Flordia, so a tan
would happen
to anyone there who would be out in the sun working. I am amazed that they
would
even live there. Seems a contradiction in terms, but as you watch this film,
you will see
that the Amish have a lot of ideas like these.
The DVD is even better, because the commentary gives you many insights and
stories
not included in this documentary. The producers of this had about 300 hours
of
interviews, so I am sure editing was a chore! They did show a few girls and
a boy who
left and several who had stayed, or though undecided, would probably join
the church
in the future. There is one story of a girl who decided after she joined the
church that
she didn't want to get married so she was shunned by the community like a
modern day
Scarlet Letter story. The Amish practice shunning when someone breaks the
pact of the
church or leaves the community. I felt very bad for her. But overall,
despite not being
able to see her family or friends, she seems to have made the right choice
for herself,
because she wants to be free and go to college. It is heartbreaking to see
though,
especially when you have grown up in the area and see it firsthand.
It is a shame though that most of the Amish kids only see Wal-mart and
drinking as the
outside world. They seem to not understand it is a place where there is much
beauty
and pleasure and it is a place where you can educate yourself. I would
think God would
let them better themselves and still live a Christian life. I know think the
world was
meant to be a closed place where the outside world is known as the Devil's
Playground.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Very interesting look at a period in Amish Life where they get to catch up.., 15 August 2007
Author:
kaijawitch from United States
I don't see how it could have been made any better.. I have actually
"met" one of the girls on this documentary.. took me awhile to realize
it was her.. I go to an Amish flee market every year in Shipshewana
Indiana (where pieces of this were filmed.. Legrange County) The only
people I "met" were the waitresses at Das Essenhaus.. (great
restaurant).. I am actually surprised that I didn't see more of what is
shown in this going on.. It is a very hard community to film.. many of
them would not allow it..
One of the most interesting parts to me was when one of the guys was
describing why they don't use technology.. I was always under the
impression that they thought it was ungodly or evil.. but it's more a
matter of taking away from the closeness of family.. \ I think this one
is a must see.. it is well done, the kids are straight up and honest
about what they are doing during this time.. and nothing seemed
forced..
8 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
Trancey soundtrack!!!!!, 26 May 2005
Author:
pearlbeach from Pittsburgh, PA.
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
The soundtrack was awesome, and if you like trance music, you will want to get the music in this film. This was real life, no staging here. I was shocked, and never knew that the Amish teens did such a thing. I think it was a cool film, and it was interesting to note that 90% of all the Amish kids, go into the faith in the end. Train up a child in the way they should go, and in the end, they will not depart from it. That is a scripture that is so true. I highly recommend this movie to anyone, to become more educated about the Amish. I really think that they are a mysterious people and we could all learn from them. I am amazed that I find really unique music in movies and not on the radio. Like I said, it is worth the viewing.
5 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
entertaining and educational, 27 October 2003
Author:
Amylove801 from Boulder, Colorado
I saw this film by chance at a friends house and I was immediately sucked into it. It was interesting to learn about a group of people whom I knew existed but never heard much about. This documentary gave me a great appreciation for how these people live their lives,I personally could never live like that. Anyone interested in learning about Amish teenagers should watch this film. It is surprising how many similarities and differences there are between Amish teenagers, and the average American teenagers.
5 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Fascinating, 12 January 2004
Author:
Joseph Pintar from New Hartford, NY
This is a fascinating look at the world of the Amish and the temptation of the outside world. This follows Amish teenagers as they go through a path of initiation by going out into the outside world. There, they decide whether or not to join the Amish church and be baptized. It's an interesting dilemna that they are facing. This documentary is better than most hollywood movies out there.
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