1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 15 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Play
"Just a game?"
2011 1h 58m SV
👍
6.8
SOLID
★6.8TMDB · 144
DramaCrime
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
In central Gothenburg, Sweden, a group of boys, aged 12-14, robbed other children on about 40 occasions between 2006 and 2008. The thieves used an elaborate scheme called the 'little brother number' or 'brother trick', involving advanced role-play and gang rhetoric rather than physical violence.
“Just a game?”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Anas Abdirahman
Anas
Sebastian Blyckert
Sebastian
Yannick Diakité
Yannick
Kevin Vaz
Kevin
John Ortiz
John
Abdiaziz Hilowle
Abdi
Sebastian Hegmar
Alex
Nana Manu
Nana
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Ruben Östlund
- Writers
- Ruben Östlund, Erik Hemmendorff
- Languages
- English, French, Swedish
- Countries
- Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, French, Swedish.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 4 countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Ruben Östlund, shot by Marius Dybwad Brandrud. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Danny Bensi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Jacob Secher Schulsinger shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Anas Abdirahman and Sebastian Blyckert and Yannick Diakité carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Just a game?".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Ruben Östlund directs. Marius Dybwad Brandrud behind the camera. Danny Bensi scores. Jacob Secher Schulsinger cuts. Produced in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden. Dialogue in English, French, Swedish.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Released 15 years ago.
- 2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, French, Swedish.
- 3International production across 4 countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden.
- 4Directed by Ruben Östlund, shot by Marius Dybwad Brandrud. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Danny Bensi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Jacob Secher Schulsinger shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Anas Abdirahman and Sebastian Blyckert and Yannick Diakité carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "Just a game?".
- 9IMDB entry: tt1376717 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Marius Dybwad Brandrud
- Original score
- Danny Bensi
- Editing
- Jacob Secher Schulsinger
- Production design
- Pia Aleborg
- Costume design
- Pia Aleborg
- Makeup / hair
- Pia Aleborg
- Runtime
- 118 min · 1h 58m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- SV
- IMDB
- Play (2011)
Awards
- Tromsø International Film Festival's audience award
- Greta
- Nordic Council Film Prize
Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.
Also by
Ruben Östlund
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Coproduction Office
DK
Plattform Produktion
SE
Film i Väst
SE
SVT
SE
- SO
Sonet Film
SE
- SO
Société Parisienne de Production
FR
ZDF
DE
Key crew
- Creative ConsultantKalle Boman
- Post Production CoordinatorMichael Sevholt
- Executive ProducerPeter Possne
- Sound MixerJan Alvermark
- Co-ProducerPhilippe Bober
- EditorJacob Secher Schulsinger
- First Assistant DirectorMattias Ek
- Sound EditorRobert Sörling
- Line ProducerMarie Kjellson
- Production DesignPia Aleborg
- CompositorDan Lind
- CastingKatja Wik
- SoundJens de Place Bjørn
- CompositorErik Fhölenhag
- Production ManagerSofia Aspeheim
- Executive ProducerAlexander Bohr
- Executive ProducerGunnar Carlsson
- Sound MixerOwe Svensson
- Makeup Department HeadPia Aleborg
- Foley ArtistClaes Lundberg
- Line ProducerSarah Nagel
- EditorRuben Östlund
- ProducerErik Hemmendorff
- Executive ProducerJessica Ask
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- based on true story
Release history · US
When it landed
- Premiere2011-10-15· New York Film Festival
- Digital2021-11-01· The Criterion Channel
Also known as
International titles
- Play - Nur ein SpielAT
- Το ΠαιχνίδιGR
