We Were Once Kids

So after watching KIDS I was looking up Justin Pierce Because I was fairly sure I had seen him in some other movies Anyway this documentary about the movie came up So I decided to watch it (Not that it changed my opinion of KIDS) But it did make me feel bad about what the actors went through Larry Clark is a low life scum of the earth Who took advantage of street kids with little or no education It was tragic to learn of the deaths of Justin Pierce and Harold Hunter Very informative and interesting documentary I would highly recommend watching this Strictly my opinion But I think it's better than the actual movie.

To talk about this documentary is to discuss one of the harshest, most brutal, rawest, and most acerbic films of all time. Writing about this documentary means doing so under the premise that, if the film wasn't well-received upon its release 30 years ago, the documentary will likely never achieve the same level of viewership as other works. Writing this review was, and still is, a complex task for me. You'll see why.

We have a documentary made by the Australian filmmaker Eddie Martin, who approached this film with relatively little experience but was determined (almost on a personal level, so only a very discerning eye can discern) to make this work, perhaps because he discovered a pivotal fact, which is revealed in a surprising and explosive way near the end.

Delving into the origins and reasons behind one of (if not the) most raw, brutal, and scathing films of all time, Kids (USA - 1995), is to delve into life itself and the stories of neighborhoods that shouldn't exist in countries with prosperous lives. It's that deep, hidden America that few dare to show in film. The same America that terrifies because it resembles any neighborhood in Latin American countries like mine, not in a "developed" one, and that's a premise you should know, especially if you saw the film by the controversial Larry Clark.

The documentary doesn't sugarcoat things. As one reviewer here said, "it's like the sister of Kids," and that's largely true. Just like that film, things are shown without taboo or censorship; there's nothing to make you think this is just another film or another documentary. Even if you haven't seen the film that inspired this documentary, you'll notice this.

The staging is brutal. Real events, real people, real circumstances; REALITY in its purest and most unadulterated form. Just like life itself. And I'm sure few people will be able to stomach this documentary. It's not easy to watch. Although it might be comforting because it shows the more humanitarian side of its subjects, people who personally experienced the consequences of participating in that controversial film. And that's the humanism that Australian director Martin advocates. What a display of humanism without borders.

It's clear that people may not like or even dislike this documentary. Because it wasn't made to be commercial. Because it wasn't made for the masses. It was made, firstly, for the people who saw the film, secondly, as a well-executed exercise in professional and cinematic ethics, and thirdly, to make an explosive and radical call to conscience about abandoning young people to their fate, with all the dangers that entails. This is auteur cinema at its finest, and as I've said in several reviews I've done here: "auteur cinema isn't for everyone, it never was and it never will be."

And that's its guiding principle throughout. This kind of cinema is uncomfortable but necessary. In times where empty, superfluous, artificial, and bland works abound, this kind of protest cinema is absolutely necessary and a priority because it shows us the truth without any inhibitions, makes us reflect on all kinds of excesses, and makes us think that both life and cinema in the 20th century were not easy. That the same social problems of 30 years ago are the same as today. Only the era and the people change. It's an excellent way of showing us all this, even if it's as uncomfortable as the film itself.

But it wasn't all bleak. The documentary also shows hope. That despite everything, "after the storm comes the calm," as a song by the great Rubén Blades would say. That no matter what adversities you may face, you never stop dreaming or yearning for a better life for yourself and your loved ones. The message it leaves is very profound, and the impact of this documentary can easily stay with you for several days, the same as if you watched another fantastic documentary: "Paris Is Burning" (USA - 1990), which, in parallel, addresses life in New York from almost the same perspective as this documentary, only from the point of view of drag queens and gay people (who at that time were even more stigmatized).

When I saw this documentary, I couldn't help but make comparisons with the aforementioned American documentary. Both explore different facets of the giant city of New York. That wild concrete jungle that singers like Rubén Blades described in his songs. Of course, each in its own way, but both touch on very sensitive points that still surprise many.

In short, we have a fantastic documentary that can blow your mind even if you've seen the film that inspired it. There's nothing premeditated about it. It's full of surprises and surprises. It can leave you with any feeling except indifference. And that's its charm.

I hope there are more films like this, because thanks to the democratization of independent cinema and the technology we have now, we can make these kinds of films, however uncomfortable they may make us. And this is coming from someone who had a difficult adolescence. Because cinema, too it can make us aware of life itself, its reality and its deepest absurdities, with the hope of not repeating any disastrous mistakes, applicable to any human being regardless of social status, wealth, race, skin color, sexual orientation, or anything else. Recommended documentary.

The title of my review was taken from the song 'Maestra Vida' by Rubén Blades.

I watched kids when it came out, being a kid myself, when I was 16 years old. The movie itself was kinda weird, though watching these kids was impressive. The storyline was total nonsense, evem to a 16-year-old. What was much more memorable was when my friend and me got out of the cinema, we were attacked by two kids who had riled themselves up watching the movie. Not a nice experience. Now this documentary felt to me like the missing piece to Kids. We used to skate, too, and like the actors describe it here, it was indeed our only way to be productive and not get into trouble. Obviously, living in a small town in Germany, we weren't nearly growing up in such dire conditions as them, but skating did mean that much to us, too.

It was interesting and sad to see how "Kids" impacted qnd changed these kids' lives, kimnd of destroying the feeble "community" that they had built themselves around skating. Had a much more profound effect on me that watching Kids back in the day.

I don't believe Larry Clark had a hidden agenda. He clearly was in awe of how this crew of loyal skaters were living life raw and unedited. It was after meeting and reading Harmony Korine's screenplay he felt it had potential to be a full length motion picture. So turning to his connections in the film industry such as Gus Van Sant, for example to make it happen. At this point is when i felt some of the cast got taken advantage of in terms of pay being the classic it still it to date but on the other hand $1,000 is a considerable amount for those who hardly had any screen time. I don't agree with Clark turning ghost after filming completed since it was a community of people who value friendship, loyalty and commitment from eachother. I understand life moves on for everyone but I'm sure some of the kids just felt dismissed by Larry & Harmony. But neither should be a scapegoat for anyone's failed career since half the cast are now very well established actors/actresses. This is my outsiders perspective, for what it's worth.

This is a good documentary that, unlike what typical bros from IMDB would say, is not for "the era of whine". It does talk about the entire cast, even those who someone says here are suspiciously silent, but this is not about the rest of the teenagers who were part of the cast. It's about those who had the power and basically used the life stories (AND IMAGES) of these kids, while filming them naked and using drugs. I have never been a fan of Harmony Korine, and now I dislike him even more. The creepy aura around Larry Clarke does not surprise me. This old dude talking with a teenager about another grown man wanting oral sex seems more like a way to bring that topic up. I do believe that Hamilton Harris, being the writer, wasn't able to objectively edit many of his conversations. The monotone can get a little bit tired.

It's not the best, but it's worth watching, especially for those who are unable to put themselves in the shoes of teenagers from "the wrong side of the tracks" (Of course, that's not the user base of this site)