The Rage in Placid Lake (2003)

In a world that celebrates mediocrity, Placid Lake, a fiercely bohemian and precocious teenager, stands out. Known for his unconventional antics and with a best friend, Gemma, who is a crayon-eating scientific prodigy, Placid has always been the odd fish in an ocean of the ordinary. But after a high school graduation night mishap that sends him flying off the school roof, breaking every bone in his body, Placid decides to bid farewell to his eccentricities. To the distress of his new-age parents, Doug and Sylvia, and the confusion of Gemma, Placid takes a surprising detour. Armed with a library of self-help manuals, a cheap suit, and a haircut that screams conformity, he embarks on a quest to retire his rage and embrace the beige of the corporate world. As he leaps onto the fast track of economic rationality, Placid's pursuit of normalcy and a future in the insurance industry seems unstoppable. But will the ever-imaginative Placid truly find solace in the banality of the ordinary? Can Gemma's intellectual prowess and their shared past help him navigate the pitfalls of his chosen path? And can his parents bear the weight of their son's peculiar rebellion towards normalcy? In the end, Placid's journey is a testament to the never underestimated power of the mundane and the evil lurking within banality. His story is a vibrant exploration of the complexities of conformity, the struggle for identity, and the ever-present rage in Placid Lake.

The Rage in Placid Lake is a comedy movie featuring Ben Lee and directed by Tony McNamara.

The Rage in Placid Lake is currently streaming on Film Movement Plus.