Fighting Demons With Dragons

One out of five young people in Denmark is unhappy and feels marginalised. Østerskov Efterskole boarding school has taken an unusual approach to dealing with this fact: role play. Whoever attends school here has been an outsider. They have been traumatised, bullied or abused, have fought with themselves, hidden themselves away, or almost lost themselves completely. Jose, Luca, and Ask are all students on the threshold of becoming adults. Exhibiting great sensitivity, filmmaker Camilla Magid followed the three for two years, giving them a voice and allowing them to decide when they show vulnerability and open a window into the process they go through at Østerskov Efterskole. Growing becomes an adventure; they bravely fight their demons. By playing different roles and experimenting in a safe space, they discover themselves. For the first time they experience what it’s like to be liked, to belong, to make friends, and to be part of a community.