Retro Film Review: Ken Park (2002)
Those who oppose nudity, explicit sexual content, and other forms of graphic film erotica often camouflage their political and philosophical motives behind ostensibly artistic arguments. They argue that explicit erotica frequently serves no purpose beyond shock value or titillation, masking a lack of genuine artistic merit in a film. An example where this contention could be applied is Ken Park, a controversial 2002 drama co-directed by Larry Clark and Edward Lachman.
Set in the Californian town of Visalia, the film opens with the suicide of teenage skater Ken Park (portrayed by Adam Chubbuk), then delves into the lives of four of his friends. Tate (played by James Ransone) responds to his grandparents' kindness with escalating violence. Claude (portrayed by Stephen Jasso) grapples with his father's perception of his effeminate nature, leading to disturbing sexual abuse. Peaches (depicted by Tiffany Limos) rebels against her Catholic fundamentalist father by engaging in BDSM practices with her boyfriend. Shawn (played by James Bullard) engages in a sexual relationship with Zoe (portrayed by Maeve Quinlan), his girlfriend's mother.
Ken Park courted controversy - essentially free publicity - for its inclusion of scenes featuring non-simulated urination and sexual acts. When filmmakers like Larry Clark, known for controversial works involving adolescent nudity and sexuality, resort to such artistic choices, it may not necessarily reflect great artistic confidence. Clark reportedly wrestled with the concept for Ken Park for nearly a decade before Harmony Korine, known for scripting Clark's acclaimed film Kids, provided the screenplay.
While Kids and Ken Park share a surface resemblance in their portrayal of dysfunctional, alienated youths immersed in social dysfunction, the former distinguishes itself with a coherent plot and well-defined characters, unlike the latter. Korine's focus on the parents of these troubled youths in Ken Park results in disjointed vignettes featuring stereotypical characters - religious zealots suppressing incestuous desires and macho men grappling with hidden homosexuality. In a film where attention often veers towards anatomy rather than narrative or character development, stereotypes stifle any remaining substance on screen. It is disheartening to witness talented actors like Amanda Plummer squander their abilities and jeopardize their reputations in films of this nature. Equally distressing is the potential branding of young actors by Ken Park throughout their careers. While the film may boast proficient cinematography, it stands as the sole commendable aspect of Ken Park. Clark and Lachman's attempt to portray themselves as uncompromising artists unafraid to confront harsh realities on screen ultimately exposes their own superficiality.
RATING: 2/10 (-)
(Note: Original version of the review is available here.)
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