SPOILER: contains discussion involving particular scenes in Ken Park.
I was lucky enough to see Ken Park a few months ago and must say that I was not too shocked. The hype that this film has created got me prepared for something far more shocking. What I in fact saw was a brilliant film, not Clark's best, but nevertheless a film enriched with in depth characterisation and realistic family/social situations, as dysfunctional as they may seem.
It seems to me that the sexual hype this film is currently causing has to some extent taken away any true merit that this film rightfully deserves. The acting is incredible, flawless. The cinemaphotography is a pleasure to the eye and Clark's certain use of subtlety in some scenes reveals how in depth this film really is. I will say it now, Larry Clark is my favourite director. So this may all be slightly biased. Ever since I first saw bully I knew this man was a genius.
I was glued to this film from the very beginning. I have now seen it 5 times and with each viewing I read more and more into it. I particuarly love the part where Claude sits on his bed, talking to a friend on the phone and gently twirls the hairs on his legs. I couldn't help but think what was the point of this? Moments later, when asleep, his father enters the room and gently begins twirling the hairs on his son's legs, before trying to sexually abuse him. Because of this technique, this leaves us wondering, has this happened before?
I love how Rhonda's youngest daughter continues to say No over and over. Is this because she continues to hear her mother say no to her husband's advances or questions or because she is forced to sit in front of the tv all day and when she tries to leave, Rhonda says "no". These issues are never identified, but it gets me thinking. This film may seem weak in structure and story, but I think Clark has devised a film that leaves many things open to one's point of view and/or interperatation. It needs to be read into. This is a beautiful story that has so many possibilities and thrives in its execution on perfect use of dialogue. My congratulations to Harmony Korine.
This may not make nay sense to anyone who has not seen the film.
The pissing scene involving Claude's father seems to be seen by some as inappropriate and pointless. There he stands, bearly, with a bottle of alcohol, pissing into the toilet. As he does this, he continues to drink. What's the point of this? I see this as a metaphor for him pissing his life away. It goes into one hole and out the other... Not irrelevant to me, as it is important to creating depth to his character.
Sure I suppose there are some shots that could have been left out, but Larry Clark has always made his films raw, that is his style and with each one he continues to lift the bar. I'm not sure if he will ever make another film but the controversy this film has created has no doubt made him a household name.
Ken Park is a truly amazing film that deserves a chance. Ignore the hype and watch it for yourself. Watch it for more than the "money shots" and for the amazing film that it truly is.
4/5
I was lucky enough to see Ken Park a few months ago and must say that I was not too shocked. The hype that this film has created got me prepared for something far more shocking. What I in fact saw was a brilliant film, not Clark's best, but nevertheless a film enriched with in depth characterisation and realistic family/social situations, as dysfunctional as they may seem.
It seems to me that the sexual hype this film is currently causing has to some extent taken away any true merit that this film rightfully deserves. The acting is incredible, flawless. The cinemaphotography is a pleasure to the eye and Clark's certain use of subtlety in some scenes reveals how in depth this film really is. I will say it now, Larry Clark is my favourite director. So this may all be slightly biased. Ever since I first saw bully I knew this man was a genius.
I was glued to this film from the very beginning. I have now seen it 5 times and with each viewing I read more and more into it. I particuarly love the part where Claude sits on his bed, talking to a friend on the phone and gently twirls the hairs on his legs. I couldn't help but think what was the point of this? Moments later, when asleep, his father enters the room and gently begins twirling the hairs on his son's legs, before trying to sexually abuse him. Because of this technique, this leaves us wondering, has this happened before?
I love how Rhonda's youngest daughter continues to say No over and over. Is this because she continues to hear her mother say no to her husband's advances or questions or because she is forced to sit in front of the tv all day and when she tries to leave, Rhonda says "no". These issues are never identified, but it gets me thinking. This film may seem weak in structure and story, but I think Clark has devised a film that leaves many things open to one's point of view and/or interperatation. It needs to be read into. This is a beautiful story that has so many possibilities and thrives in its execution on perfect use of dialogue. My congratulations to Harmony Korine.
This may not make nay sense to anyone who has not seen the film.
The pissing scene involving Claude's father seems to be seen by some as inappropriate and pointless. There he stands, bearly, with a bottle of alcohol, pissing into the toilet. As he does this, he continues to drink. What's the point of this? I see this as a metaphor for him pissing his life away. It goes into one hole and out the other... Not irrelevant to me, as it is important to creating depth to his character.
Sure I suppose there are some shots that could have been left out, but Larry Clark has always made his films raw, that is his style and with each one he continues to lift the bar. I'm not sure if he will ever make another film but the controversy this film has created has no doubt made him a household name.
Ken Park is a truly amazing film that deserves a chance. Ignore the hype and watch it for yourself. Watch it for more than the "money shots" and for the amazing film that it truly is.
4/5
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