“Kids” (1995), directed by Larry Clark and written by Harmony Korine, is a stark and unvarnished American drama that unflinchingly portrays a single day in the lives of a group of New York City teenagers. The film quickly establishes its raw, documentary-style approach, immersing the viewer in a world of casual sex, rampant drug use, petty crime, and a pervasive sense of nihilism.
The narrative primarily follows two intertwined storylines. The first centers on Telly, a scrawny, 17-year-old skateboarder who proudly dubs himself a “virgin surgeon.” His sole ambition is to deflower as many young girls as possible, treating these encounters with a disturbing lack of empathy or concern for consequences, especially in the face of the burgeoning AIDS epidemic. Telly’s best friend, Casper, is equally reckless and volatile, often engaging in shoplifting, drug use, and spontaneous acts of violence, such as brutally assaulting a man with a skateboard in Washington Square Park. Their day is a meandering journey through Manhattan, characterized by aimless wandering, seeking out girls, and consuming substances.
The second, more urgent, storyline follows Jennie, a girl who had previously slept with Telly. The film opens with Jennie receiving devastating news: she has tested positive for HIV. Overwhelmed and terrified, her immediate and desperate mission becomes to find Telly, not only to confront him with this life-altering truth but also, crucially, to prevent him from infecting any other unsuspecting girls. Accompanied by her friend Ruby, Jennie navigates the city, desperately trying to track down Telly, calling payphones and asking mutual acquaintances for his whereabouts.
As the day progresses, the film cuts between the boys’ hedonistic exploits and Jennie’s frantic, increasingly futile search. The teenagers congregate in various urban spaces – parks, abandoned buildings, skate spots, and finally, a raucous house party. Each encounter further illuminates their detached attitudes towards sex, responsibility, and the potential repercussions of their actions. The dialogue is authentic, filled with slang and crude boasts, reflecting a generation seemingly adrift and desensitized.
The climax arrives at the party, where Telly successfully seduces Darcy, a 13-year-old virgin. Unaware of Jennie’s desperate quest or the grim reality she carries, Telly achieves his perverse objective. Jennie, having finally arrived at the party, collapses from exhaustion and drug intoxication, unwittingly becoming a victim herself as Casper takes advantage of her. The film concludes with Telly’s chilling voiceover, asserting that sex is the only meaningful thing in his life, leaving a profound sense of despair and the haunting question of how many lives will be irrevocably altered by their reckless abandon. “Kids” stands as a controversial yet powerful time capsule, capturing the raw, unfiltered reality of a specific moment in American youth culture.
