Devil’s Playground

Year: 2002

Grade: B

Country: USA

Director: Walker

Review

documentary about the period after amish teenagers turn sixteen and go through a sort of rite of passage…they are allowed to experience the ways of the outside world until they decide to either embrace or shun the amish ways. very interesting peek into a mosly unknown world. not entirely well done technically, but the substance is what matters most in documentaries and this one proves that. rites of passage are one of the more universal aspects across cultures and that makes this journey all the more easy to relate to. it’s interesting, though, because the “choice” that the kids are given can hardly be considered such… the amish are interesting – they are willfully ignorant (they reject education past the age of 13 for fear of developing too much pride) and yet seem proud of it. an entirely different culture that should neither be lauded nor criticized. features music from aphex twin and you can’t go wrong with him.