Devil’s Playground
This documentary follows a group of Amish teenagers in Indiana during their rumspringa–that rite-of-passage thorugh the no-man’s land between childhood and married life in the Amish church community. these kids, living the high life in the “English” world (rock and roll, alcohol, fornication, drugs, etc) must decide whether to be baptized and pledge to live the Amish life, or join modern America and be excommunicated from their friends and family forever.
This raw documentary is shot cinéma-vérité: it has no narrator, and relies almost solely on footage of the Amish teens going about their day. Faron, the primary subject of the film is just as scared, confused, horny, and insecure as any American teen, but the additional weight of the decision he has to make is more than any teen should have to handle. The fact that these kids are having to choose between their heritage and “the American dream” is something none of them take lightly. When you think about how crucial tradition and family are in Amish life, the thought of abandoning that must be utterly terrifying, even if they decide to stay within the Amish faith. There would still be that nagging doubt: what if my parents were right?
The idea of rumspringa might seem absurd to some, but I think it fits the Anabaptist concept of waiting until a person can make a conscious, responsible decision to become a Christian, and it does have a biblical basis. It gives every individual their own opportunity to become a prodigal son. It’s certainly not something Amish teens have to do. it’s a choice, just like the choice to be baptized. I also see the way the church and community are willing to forgive and forget the sins of rumspringa mirrors the prodigal son’s father’s reaction to his son’s return.
I don’t know how one could see this as a “smear piece” on the Amish church, or faith in general. When Faron explains the Amish book of martyrs, he has an obvious reverence for the unbreakable faith of his ancestors. In fact, none of the teens in this film–regardless of their decision–turned away from their faith in heaven, hell, marriage, or God.
Kudos to Lucy Walker and the other filmmakers involved in the making of Devil’s Playground. The more I think about this movie, the more I want to see it again–the mark of a truly excellent film.