Kids by Larry Clark

Clark, Larry. Kids. Lions Gate, 2000. R. DVD. 91 mins. ASIN: B00004YA6G

Plot Summary

It's summer in NYC and teens are bored so what are the suppose to do for fun...have sex, drink, and do drugs. Telly, a 16 year old boy, loves to deflower girls, the younger the better. Telly, his friend Casper, and all the rest of there friends skate, tag, smoke pot, and drink alcohol. Jenny is a 16 year old girl whose only sexual partner was Telly but they do not speak to each other anymore. Telly and his friends discuss sex when the issue of AIDS arises. The boys hate condoms and would rather risk getting AIDS then use them. They also believe that AIDS does not really exist since they do not anyone personally that has it. Jenny and her friends discuss the issues of sex as well, each contradicting one another. A week ago Jenny accompanied her friend Ruby to a clinic to get tested for STDs. Ruby has had many partners compared to Jenny. In one day the lives of these urban American teenagers would change forever. The choices they make have consequences that are beyond there understanding.

Critical evaluation

This movie shows teenagers in a raw setting that is not sugar coated what so ever which Larry Clark does well. This movie goes into the mind of the teenager that do not just act they share with the audience why they do things. Clarke wanted teens that did not have any acting experience so it gives a portrayal of teens that are just acting like themselves. These teenagers look like they are really just acting like themselves, like a documentary. The film quality is not impressive, since the film is not high quality and camera moves around a lot. There are teenagers who did or do believe that AIDS is not a threat but this movie makes a stance saying that it is. Teenagers and adults would be shocked by this movie.

Readers Annotations

A hot summer day in NYC unravels into a night of discoveries and unfortunate events for Telly, Jenny, and Casper.

Information About the Author

Clarke only wanted kids that did not have any prior acting experience. He was looking for those who were most like “street kids.”

Genre

Drama

Curriculum Ties

Health/Sex Ed

Booktalking Ideas

1) Consequences of unprotected sex

2) Discuss scene when caper rapes Jenny

3) Jenny after she finds out she has aids, first person

Reading Level/Interest Age

17+

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas

Teenage Sex

Rape

Drugs

Alcohol

Won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival

Considered “a wake up call” – New York Times

Why Book Included

I think this movie shows a raw portrayal of Teens and the issue of sex.