Kids (1995)

Director:

Larry Clark

Writers:

Larry Clark (story)
Harmony Korine (writer)

Release Date:

28 July 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

An amoral, HIV-positive skateboarder sets out to deflower as many virgins as possible while a local girl who contracted his disease tries to save his next target from her same fate.

Plot Keywords:

New York | Disturbing | Hiv | Sex | New York City

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Leo Fitzpatrick	...	Telly
Sarah Henderson	...	Girl #1
Justin Pierce	...	Casper
Joseph Chan	...	Deli Owner
Johnathan Staci Kim	...	Korean Guy (as Johnathan S. Kim)
Adriane Brown	...	Little Girl
Sajan Bhagat	...	Paul
Billy Valdes	...	Stanly
Billy Waldeman	...	Zack
Javier Núñez	...	Javier (as Javier Nunez)
Luis Núñez	...	Luis (as Luis Nunez)
Christian Bruna	...	Christian
Alex Glen	...	Alex
Chloë Sevigny	...	Jennie (as Chloe Sevigny)
Rosario Dawson	...	Ruby

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | UK:18 (cut) | France:-12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2005) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Australia:R | Canada:18A | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Chile:18 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 (cut) | Italy:VM18 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | South Africa:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:NC-17 (original rating: 1995) | USA:Open (rating surrendered: 1995)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Guys Upstairs

Trivia:

According to an interview with bit-part actor Jeff Pang (who plays himself), many of the party scenes in the film were completely unscripted. The cameras would roll and the "kids" would just get drunk, get high, and play around. There is debate however, as to whether the 'blunt-rolling tutorial' scene in Washington Square Park used real marijuana or not.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the crowd is attacking the man, Harold has his shirt on in one shot, but not in the next.

Quotes:

Jennie: I'm not gonna die.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Teenage Wasteland (2006)

Soundtrack:

Word Is Bond

The Youth of our Nation.

Larry Clark has broken the boundaries with this film. Not only is it one of the realist depictions of our nation's youth, but it also brings the fear of the AIDS virus closer to home. This is not a piece of fictitious work, this is brutal honesty in its rawest form. While many will knock this film because of the pornographic nature, I saw past that and witnessed the birth of the next plague. Writer Harmony Korine has taken the world of our children and transferred it to the big screen. I never once saw this as a shock film or disgusting, I saw honesty and truth behind every scene. This is really what is happening in our backyards. Kids are not as young as they used to be, and are growing up in a world with more possibilities and distractions than ever before. This is the modern world, and these are the newest leaders.

While this is not what happens with all of our youth, it does paint a beautiful picture of just a handful. This is not just a story about NYC, it is a message for every city. This is happening all over this country. In the wealthy, poor, and everything in-between, our children are experimenting without any form of education or realization of their actions.

This is not a film that will leave a very good taste in your mouth, but then again it isn't supposed to. This is better and more honest than any reality program out there and it will scare the daylights out of you. This is our world, we must change it.

Grade: ***** out of *****