Kids (1995)
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A group of teenagers in New York City engage in a day of sexual acts and substance abuse.
The story
The film follows a group of teenagers in New York City who are characterized as libertines. Over the course of a single day, they engage in sexual acts and recreational substance abuse. The narrative follows Telly and his friend Casper as they navigate their environment, while a group of girls nearby discusses their own experiences and attitudes toward sex and safety. The story captures the raw, unfiltered lives of these youths as they move through the city's streets, seeking drugs, food, and social connection.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Telly, a 16-year-old, and his friend Casper spend a day in New York City engaging in substance abuse and sexual encounters. Telly focuses on having sex with virgins, while Casper shoplifts and participates in a violent altercation where a group of skaters beats a man unconscious. Meanwhile, a girl named Jennie, who tests positive for HIV after a single encounter with Telly, desperately tries to find him to warn him. The two groups' paths eventually cross at a party. Telly is seen with a 13-year-old girl named Darcy, and Jennie witnesses Telly having sex with her. The film ends with a montage of New York City life and a final scene where an intoxicated Casper wakes up on a couch, while Telly provides a voiceover stating that sex is the only thing of value in his life.
- First release year
- 1995
- Runtime (minutes)
- 91
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Larry Clark
- Writers
- Harmony Korine · writer
- Cast and characters
- Leo Fitzpatrick · Telly; Justin Pierce · Casper; Chloë Sevigny · Jennie; Rosario Dawson · Ruby Forman; Yakira Peguero · Darcy; Atabey Rodriguez · Misha; Jon Abrahams · Steven; Harold Hunter · Harold
- Genres
- drama; independent; teen
- Themes
- substance abuse; sexual activity; adolescent behavior
- Tone and mood
- observational; raw
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; teen drama; urban life
- Reception
- The film received mixed to favorable reviews from critics and is now considered a cult classic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 47% · scale: percentage · review count: 57; Metacritic · score: 63 · scale: 100 · review count: 18
- Awards and nominations
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains · Telly · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to be released with an NC-17 rating but was released unrated instead.; The film was shot in a quasi-documentary style.; The film's soundtrack was released in 1995.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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