Directed by Larry Clark and written by Harmony Korine, KIDS is a disturbing look at a day in the life of Telly and Casper, a pair of sex obsessed teenagers, who spend their day stealing, doing drugs and of course having sex. Telly is a young lad who prefers even younger girls, preferable of the untouched variety. Casper on the other hand spends his day ripped on drugs and listening to Telly's tales of virginal conquests.
Everyone got the wrought iron authoritarian knickers in a twist but I found it quite endearing the way the respective girls and boys candidly and awkwardly talk about sex. Let's be honest, adolescents have always been crippled by their fascistic need to be cool, insular and diametrically opposed to adult norms and values.
Filmed in a documentary style with a very young looking cast, KIDS is an honest depiction of youth culture, with their: we're going to die anyway attitude. This film has caused controversy since its original cinema release and will no doubt continue being talked about by cultural historians for years to come-
The real issue is the old chestnut of whether critics can rationalise and intellectualise the issues here and whether others are merely affected by this film in a primal way... So is it prurient voyeuristic right wing alarmism dressed up as informed researched social commentary, an indictment of alienation or just teenage kicks 90's style in a rather well put together film or a chance to see Chloe Sevigny in the buff - you decide...
KIDS contains several relatively graphic sex scenes which all help deliver a powerful message - it's not a film for everyone and definitely not one for a romantic night in but it does highlight a problem that needs to be dealt with and talked about.
Everyone got the wrought iron authoritarian knickers in a twist but I found it quite endearing the way the respective girls and boys candidly and awkwardly talk about sex. Let's be honest, adolescents have always been crippled by their fascistic need to be cool, insular and diametrically opposed to adult norms and values.
Filmed in a documentary style with a very young looking cast, KIDS is an honest depiction of youth culture, with their: we're going to die anyway attitude. This film has caused controversy since its original cinema release and will no doubt continue being talked about by cultural historians for years to come-
The real issue is the old chestnut of whether critics can rationalise and intellectualise the issues here and whether others are merely affected by this film in a primal way... So is it prurient voyeuristic right wing alarmism dressed up as informed researched social commentary, an indictment of alienation or just teenage kicks 90's style in a rather well put together film or a chance to see Chloe Sevigny in the buff - you decide...
KIDS contains several relatively graphic sex scenes which all help deliver a powerful message - it's not a film for everyone and definitely not one for a romantic night in but it does highlight a problem that needs to be dealt with and talked about.