Club Kid (dir. Jordan Firstman)
By: Adam Freed
An awakening of emotional maturity isn’t something that unfolds in predictable fashion. For New York club promoter Peter, buried under the weight of years of recreational drug use, it would appear that he is far more likely to find an early grave than purpose or direction. Deep within the grips of addictions to ketamine, cocaine and MDMA the wayward man is too old for the perils of the lifestyle he leads and yet far too ensnared to walk away. Behind the hazy remains of his embattled central character, writer and director Jordan Firstman unveils a sublime coming-of-age exploration of human connection with Club Kid.
Firstman, who also plays the film’s central role, pulls no punches within the opening act of Club Kid. Peter, who perceives himself as an unapologetically free queer man, is nowhere close to freedom given the financial and chemical dependency restraints he’s put on himself over the years. Visually, Firstman and director of photography Adam Newport-Berra (Euphoria, The Last Black Man in San Francisco) paint a captivating portrait of New York’s late night queer club scene. Lower Manhattan glistens and glitters captured on 35mm film, one of the alluring secrets to Firstman’s compelling story. With the addition of a mood-altering score by Cristobal Tapia de Veer (The White Lotus, Black Mirror), Club Kid pulses within dangerous proximity to sensory overload, before Firstman’s wonderfully crafted script sinks its emotional hooks into audiences.
As evidence of Firstman’s dynamism as a filmmaker, Club Kid feels akin to a 21st Century Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) if it were presented through the frenetic lens of Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme, Uncut Gems). Lost in the pulse and strobe of New York’s underground party scene are the realities that Peter is forced to face with sunrise. In particular the shockwave sent through Peter’s existence when a ten year old boy by the name of Arlo is dropped at his doorstep. The child, the alleged product of Peter’s only heterosexual experience, represents Peter’s opportunity to force himself into maturation for the sake of someone he values far greater than himself. Although there are a few predictable notes within a story that feels well traveled, the dual performances of Firstman (Men Don’t Whisper) and the young Reggie Absolom (Testament, Silo) are the true magic behind Club Kid. There is a desperation in both characters to succeed in one another’s eyes, a rare trait for a film dependent on the performance of a child. With the seemingly mismatched duo at the heart of the film, stunning supporting roles by Cara Delevingne and Diego Calva cement Club Kid as one to watch come award season.
Target Score 8.5/10 - The simple, yet potent power of human connection sits at the heart of a film about a man whose life is mired in chaos. Jordan Firstman’s Club Kid is an unflinching ode to the need to set aside childish things, and live a life of purpose in service to others.