Movie Night: Kids (1995)

 On July 28, 1995, Larry Clark’s first film, Kids, hit theaters. The movie starring Rosario Dawson, Chloe Sevigny, the late Justin Pierce, and Leo Fitzpatrick followed the very adult consequences of a group of teens living in then-present-day New York City. Produced in part by Gus Van Zandt (Good Will Hunting, Drug Store Cowboys), the controversial film showed sex, graphic violence, drug use, and dealt with AIDS, homelessness, and homophobia in a very raw presentation. A launchpad for many of Hollywood’s stars (including Spring Breakers director Harmony Korine and Meet The Parents’ Jon Abrahams), Clark’s work also included late NYC skate figure Harold Hunter, believed to be playing himself at the time.



For Hip-Hop Heads, in addition to its candid premise and raw portrayals, Kids included music from O.C., The Artifacts, Jeru The Damaja, Nine, Brand Nubian, and The Crooklyn Dodgers.
Whether you aligned with this film’s subjects, or watched a generation on the rise at the time—or if you’ve never seen the 1995 at all, it’s available in full, free stream, and worthy of re/consideration: