A basic outline of the plot would be - Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick), a young boy growing up in New York City fills his days with smoking weed, skateboarding and having sex with as many virgins he can possibly find. Jennie (Chloe Sevigny), also a young New Yorker, wanders around the city looking for Telly, after discovering she has contracted HIV from him during their first sexual encounter, only to find she is too late as Telly has already moved onto his next virgin victim.
I had previously been warned that 'Kids' was a shocking and frightening expose of the youth of America, but after watching the film myself...and I am sad to say this...I didn't find it to be this at all. To be honest, it's exactly the type of behavior I would expect from kids growing up in big cities in this day and age, the film shows honesty and truth. Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with most of what these kids do in the film, but children are growing up faster and faster, and I just hope people (parents/children) can use this film as a wake-up call and an educational tool. I think one thing the film does well is asks parents the question "These are your kids, do you know what they get up to when you're not around?"
As well as shoplifting, drugs and parties, the film highlights taboo subjects such as AIDS, and really brings it close to home. We find one of the lead characters, Jennie, contracts the virus, and we are taken on the emotional roller-coaster the news brings to her life.
'Kids' has been a huge influence on many films and T.V. series, such as 'Thirteen', 'Lords Of Dogtown' and perhaps most poignantly, recent T.V. series 'Skins', although I think I can safely say, it wasn't done nearly as well. 'Skins' contains the same ideas, theories and concepts as 'Kids', but it lacks the grit and rawness 'Kids' manages to achieve.
What I found funny whilst watching this film was how fashionable the characters are, even over ten years later. The styling is amazing and has the youth culture of that generation down to a tee. Main character Casper, side-kick to Telly, shows a particular resemblance to the 'New Era' trend that has only recently been brought back to life in the past few years. You could easily be convinced the clothing was taken from the streets of today.
A definite recommendation to anybody remotely interested in fashion, music, art, photography as this movie will certainly feed your appetite for creativeness and inspiration.
Also, it's a fucking cool film. SEE IT!
'Kids'...I give it 10 out of 10
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