Kids(1995), meet Christiane F.-We Children From Bahnhof Zoo(1981)

Kids(1995) meet Christiane F. -We Children From Bahnhof Zoo(1981)

Words by: Jason Lee

The cult classic, Kids, released in 1995, shocked the world with its brutally honest depiction of life as a kid in the 90's. Not only did it shock first time viewers, but exposed a part of life that parents and seemingly other kids themselves were aware of. Written by Harmony Korine, and directed by Larry Clark, the film not only casted real skaters from that era but featured people that had no acting experience prior to the film. Each character performed their role so naturally based on the obvious fact that this was not all acting, in fact, it was their life or at minimum a spinoff of it. This movie resonated with not the adults and critics, but the people it was based on, Kids.

In search of another movie with a similar dark and authentic tone, I stumbled upon the film, Christiane F., thanks to a Monster Children article. This film follows Christiane, a Bowie idolizing girl barely hitting puberty. Her innocence is depicted early on in the film when she is introduced to a disco club named, Sound, there she cautiously walks in wearing socks in her mother's heels tagging closely to her more "mature" friend. As she continues to frequent the club after her first hallucinogenic night, she is then thrusted into Germany's nightlife and begins to make connections and experiment with weed, hallucinogenics, and alcohol. Along with these experiences comes her love for Bowie and boys, or should I say, a boy. It seems like she has found peace or a place as a nightcrawler on the weekend, and quiet schoolgirl on the weekdays. In this weekly routine of telling her mother she is "staying at a friends house", her weekend escapes seem perfect and unending until she hits an obstacle. Her love interest begins to start a habit of shooting up "H" or heroin. Christiane has enough restraint to know not to touch such a drug thanks to a jarring memory she had when she first walked into Sound. Christiane tries to convince Detlev to not shoot up and take hallucinogenics with her instead, he ignores her and leaves her feeling helpless and lost.

Although I don't want to give away more info than just a small introduction into the chaotic thunderstorm that is this movie, Christiane F. will have one holding their breath for minutes on end. Words can not justify how heavy this movie really is and the hammer that brings it all down is the realization that this is a real life story. The movie envelopes the mood of being a hopeless romantic and the destructive nature of not only what one thinks love is, but how it should be shown. Christiane exhibits a foolhardy characteristic similar to Romeo and Juliet, which is in part why I think this movie was so impactful. Elements found in Kids like a feeling of being lost without the one thing you're good at helped add to the film's tone and realism. This film will leave you shocked, thinking about it days after watching it, and will give a indescribable definition to the words Wasted Youth.

Watch it here.

Just Kids

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