I laughed. I vibed. I cried.
Club Kid was one of the hottest tickets at Cannes earlier this year and for good reason. Starring, written, and directed by Jordan Firstman, it follows Peter, a New York club promoter who is unsure of where his life is going. Battling addiction and having just lost his job, Peter is forced to confront his circumstances when a woman arrives at his door with a young boy she claims is his son.
The amount of laughter in the cinema during this film was unbelievable, as the audience laughed out loud at jokes, conversations, or even just facial expressions. Club Kid's dialogue is very witty and includes picture-perfect depictions of what it feels like to try to converse with people in a nightclub. Everyone is shouting, referencing some niche tweet, and something ridiculous a stranger said has suddenly become an inside joke. The title cards also have so much character and match the feel of the film very well; one time jump is simply described as "a decade or so later".
Another aspect worth praising is the film's unapologetic love for the dolls. At a time when trans rights are constantly being argued about, having a movie that openly supports and celebrates trans women screen at some of the world's biggest film festivals is so important. Club Kid not only casts actual trans actresses in these roles but also gives them a vital role in the plot. It portrays them as fully fleshed-out characters that don't solely rely on their trans identity to be interesting, most clearly demonstrated by Safron (Saturn Risin9).
It is no surprise that a film called Club Kid also has an incredibly catchy soundtrack. The movie opens with "Sex With Me" by Rihanna and features a multitude of modern club hits, from Slayyyter's "CRANK" to "Fuck My Computer" by Ninajirachi. Though it isn’t all hard beats, as Club Kid manages to balance this loud, electronic sound with softer, emotional music, with songs by Elliott Smith, Ethel Cain, and the Cocteau Twins.
The soundtrack of this film is so central to its themes, and it helps build the characters' inner worlds through their music taste. Arlo (Reggie Absolom) is the prime example. He's a child, but his love for bands like Massive Attack and Elliott Smith showcases a certain maturity in him. It first connects him to his mother, who introduced him to these artists, and later his father as they bond over shared playlists.
A big part of the film is about acceptance: accepting others, accepting life, and accepting yourself. It's a music-filled, heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of someone trying to be better not just for someone else but for himself. A love letter to community, club culture, and queerness, Club Kid is a unique addition to a year already filled with so much great cinema. And it will surely leave you listening to the soundtrack on your way home.
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