In New York City, a group of young teenagers are trying to do a disturbing and painful behavior for many people. The young man Tilly has the goal of sleeping with more older girls without telling them that he is infected with HIV. Tilly tries to help his friend Caspar steal shops, smoking and other nasty behavior. The girl, named Ginny - one of Tilly's victims - is trying to save the other girls from Tilly before they destroy them, but before she gets the chance, everything will change.
The first-time director, Larry Clark, is rather like his protagonist: He comes on to you, has his rough way with you, and leaves you feeling empty and violated.
Kids shows what transpires when children are set adrift in a heartless world, and warns us what happens -- and is already happening -- in the absence of love and guidance.
In its candid and bold approach, Larry Clarke's controversial film dwarfs all of Hollywood's youth movies, crossing new boundaries in its portrayal of sex and drugs; for a change, real teenagers, not actors in their 20s, play the roles.