KIDS IN LOVE
UK, 2016, 88 minutes, Colour.
Will Poulter, Alma Jodorowsky, Sebastian De Souz, Preston Thomson, Cara Delevingne, Gala Gordon, Jamie Blackley, Pip Torrens, Geraldine Somerville.
Directed by Chris Foggin.
Kids in Love is a brief film focusing for a few weeks in the life of young adults, 20 plus or minus, especially those who have finished their high school studies, with the prospect of the gap year, the possibilities of internship, and then enrolment at University.
The film is very much a British story, a London story, with a great deal of London location photography, sometimes over garish and more bright than might be expected, streets and homes, clubs – as well is a mention in the countryside – very much a focus on affluent Londoners, white Londoners rather far removed from the gritty stories told by the films of Noel Clarke or the television series Skins.
The focus is on Jack, played by Will Poulter, who had made an impression as a boy in the film Son of Rambow and who appeared as a character actor in a range of films including the American, We’re the Millers, as well is having a significant supporting role in The Revenant.
He portrays Jack, a fairly sensible young man who is pressurised by his father concerning studies and career, by his long friendship with Tom (Jamie Blakely) with whom is to travel to South America for the gap year.
A chance encounter with a young French woman, Alma Jodorowsky, on the street where he and Tom are appealing for a charity leads him into a different world, a world of young people with money, who go to clubs, have sexual relationships, open to different possibilities for Jack who still seems rather uncertain, diffident in his manner though more assured in his principles. This is especially the case when he discovers that the boyfriend of the French girl is actually a pimp for young men for wealthy clients.
In many ways, the film is rather slight, probably to be dismissed by audiences, young and old, who don’t identify with the situations. But, for those involved, the prospects of life and choices are still important.
1. A London take on young men and women in transition from school, to university, gap years, internships, careers?
2. The London setting, the bright and garish colours, the artificial light on this kind of London? The London streets, transport, homes, shops? Nightclubs? The mansion in the country? The range of songs as background to the action?
3. The focus on Jack, his age, his long friendship with Tom, his parents and his father’s pressure on him, the internship with the lawyer, the prospect of Bristol University? His own uncertainty, wanting some kind of gap year? To travel with Tom? His personality?
4. The charity, on the street, stopping people for the appeal? The encounter with Evelyn? Tom urging Jack on? Jack and his awkwardness, walking Evelyn to the corner, her being picked up by Miles? Her mentioning the pub, his going, meeting her again, the encounter with the young people at the club, talking, the dancing, his being comfortable as well as uncomfortable?
5. Going to the house where Evelyn lived, his friendship with Cyrus, their talking, the gift of the camera? His desire to take photos? Evelyn and her relationship with Miles?
6. Companionship with Evelyn, enigmatic, yet talking, the presence of Miles?
7. Miles, picking up the young men, taking them to the house, rejecting the underage boy? Jack, his shock, Miles justifying his profession, Jack later revealing it in discussion with Evelyn who didn’t know?
8. Tom, upset with Jack, the journey to South America, the Brazilian girls, Machu Picchu? Jack moving away from Tom, Tom coming to his room, pushing him, feeling rejected?
9. Jack, going out, staying out at night, the parties? The behaviour of his friends, sexual? Jack’s reaction against the pressure of his parents?
10. Going to the country, driving without a license, the mansion, relaxing, talking with Evelyn, the sexual encounter, the effect on Jack, the lack of effect on Evelyn, the morning after, his surprise and disappointment? The others arriving for the party, the girls, Cyrus and talking about the sexual experience? Jack coming to terms with what it happened, the group walking in the country, the return home?
11. Jack, photos, putting them in the envelope and in the post, his writing on the back “Kids in Love�?
