The Grannies

Peeking behind the curtain: This is how the Grannies describe what they’re up to. Behind the jokey name is a small group of creatives who play the computer game Red Dead Online together—though they’re not actually “playing the game” as intended. Rather than completing the missions set in late 19th-century America, they set out like true pioneers towards the periphery of its playable world—and beyond. Taking advantage of a glitch in the programming, they let themselves fall off the edge of the map. These virtual adventurers provide commentary for scenes from the game that are often presented in split screen to replicate the multiplayer feel. With infectious enthusiasm and a keen eye for detail, they describe the landscapes they discover beyond the boundaries of the game world; the plains whose contours become increasingly indistinct, and where the influence of the laws of the game grow ever weaker. The imagery and voiceover combine to otherworldly and evocative effect in a travelogue about a journey to another digital dimension (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)