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In Sweden, this film was highly controversial. Many were outraged because it was supposedly racist, while others claimed that this outrage was actually proof of racist, stereotype thinking. Some viewed the film as a condemnation of class society, while others saw it as a story about the corrupting effects of power. Be that as it may, for director Ruben Östlund it was his breakthrough, later followed by his international successes Turist and The Square.
Gothenburg: a street gang of five black boys aged 12 to 14 specialises in extorting other kids. Their main interest lies with cell phones. Without using physical violence, they manage to get hold of the phones through intimidation and a sophisticated good cop/bad cop routine. One day the gang tackles three boys in one go, taking them to a remote part of the city. There they are forced to compete in a footrace. At stake are all their belongings.