The Plague (englische OV) // 40. Fantasy Filmfest // Deutschlandpremiere // Centerpiece

Twelve-year-old Ben is new at the water polo summer camp. He desperately wants to fit in, but the boastful and mean Jake, the leader of the established clique, makes it difficult for him. He manipulates the other boys and stirs up trouble against the clumsy loner Eli, who suffers from a severe, pus-filled rash. He convinces the group that Eli has the “plague.” Whoever gets too close to him will be the next to be struck down. Ben, too, is often bullied by Jake’s ruthless gang and grows increasingly afraid of catching the disease. Suddenly, the fear of the supposed plague lurks in every pimple. When the two outcasts nevertheless band together, Jake’s smear campaign begins to escalate into increasingly brutal harassment, culminating in a bloody climax at the disco party with the girls. 

In Charlie Polinger’s debut film, *THE PLAGUE*, the horror of growing up and being excluded becomes disturbingly tangible—a state that anyone who has ever been bullied at school can relate to. Timeless underwater scenes, alternating with the claustrophobic feeling of the locker room and the driving soundtrack, create an oppressive atmosphere that gets right under your skin, thanks in no small part to the fantastic, very authentic young actors.

Twelve-year-old Ben is new to the water polo summer camp. He desperately wants to fit in, but Jake, the boastful and mean leader of the established clique, makes it difficult for him. He manipulates the other boys and turns them against Eli, the clumsy loner who suffers from a severe, pus-filled skin rash. He tells the group that Eli has “the plague.” Anyone who gets too close to him will be next. Ben is also frequently picked on by Jake’s merciless gang and becomes increasingly afraid of catching it himself. Suddenly, the fear of the supposed epidemic lurks in every pimple. When the two outsiders nevertheless begin to bond, Jake’s campaign of harassment escalates into increasingly brutal bullying, culminating in a bloody showdown at the disco party with the girls.

In Charlie Polinger’s debut film *THE PLAGUE*, the horror of growing up and being excluded becomes disturbingly palpable—a feeling anyone who has ever been bullied at school can relate to. Timeless underwater sequences alternate with the claustrophobic atmosphere of the locker room and a relentless soundtrack, creating an oppressive mood that gets under your skin, not least thanks to the fantastic and remarkably authentic young cast.