Devil's Playground

Devil's Playground Photos

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Cast & Crew

Faron Yoder
Self

Emma Miller
Self

Joann Hochstetler
Self

Gerald Yutzy
Self

Velda Bontrager
Self

Lucy Walker
Director

Steven Cantor
Producer

Daniel Laikind
Co-Producer

Toby Oppenheimer
Co-Producer

Sheila Nevins
Executive Producer

Julie Goldman
Executive Producer

Nancy Abraham
Supervising Producer

Daniel Kern
Cinematographer

Lucy Walker
Cinematographer

Pax Wassermann
Film Editing

Aphex Twin
Original Music

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Audience Reviews for Devil's Playground

• Mar 05, 2010

  A rare, intimate look into the lives of a group of Amish kids during the period, at age 16, when they are allowed to sample what life has to offer in the "English" world. The Amish are a sect apart and that separation is what is on view here. Unique in their approach to their children is the Rumspringa, based on the idea that the choice to be baptized and to adhere to the Amish way of life must be undertaken freely and upon one's attaining the age of "accountability". These teens are not meant to be representative, as the film clearly states that 90% of Rumspringa teens return to the faith, but were most likely chosen because they pointed up the conflicts inherent in making that choice. What made this film interesting was to watch the indecision, the changing of minds, the pain that accompanied their choice no matter which way they went. Of particular interest was the story of Velda, whose choices led to her being ostracized by the community. This may not be definitive, but for one only somewhat familiar with the customs, this proved to be quite intriguing.
  

  Super Reviewer
• Oct 21, 2009

  Amish kids gone wild
  Super Reviewer
• Sep 15, 2009

  An occasionally interesting documentary chronicling the lives of five different individuals who try to experience life in the "real world" once they are given the opportunity to abandon their Amish roots. While the film is definitely surprising and compelling in parts, it fails to achieve a balance between its people involved, centering in on one more than the others (that being Faron), making the whole film feel sort of off-balanced from beginning to end. While it's definitely shocking to see how these individuals break away so fast, and in some cases, dangerously fast, the film makes it seem like their people's personal problems is what was their main downfall, when in reality, since most Amish kids don't have anything past a high school education, they, are essentially screwed from the start when it comes to hoping to fulfilling a successful lifestyle.
  

  Dan S Super Reviewer
• Mar 13, 2008

  Very well done. Nothing like seeing Amish kids deal crack.
  Curtis L Super Reviewer