It’s an awe-inspiring feeling like no other to witness an artist create something they seem born to make. It’s even more remarkable if that thing is their debut. In Jordan Firstman’s Club Kid, in which Firstman is the writer, director, and lead actor—a combination at which I would usually raise an eyebrow for first-time feature filmmakers—it feels as if he has aligned every star by hand to create a type of magic that many would be lucky to experience even once in their career. Although a simple and somewhat familiar setup, the execution feels assured, absorbing, and impressively complete.
Club Kid introduces us to the world of main character Peter (Firstman) with a 360-degree pan that captures every bit of drugs, makeup, and carefree laughter that makes the club scene so intoxicating to him. A gay club promoter whose life for over a decade has revolved around the next night out, Peter has never really had to grow up in any meaningful way. All of that shatters when he finds out he has a 10-year-old son, Arlo, from a one-night stand he barely remembers. Because his mother recently died, Arlo is essentially dropped on Peter’s doorstep, leaving him with no choice but to become the grown-up he’s never tried to be.
In other hands, this narrative trajectory might be a diatribe on the shallowness of party culture, but Firstman offers a critique of its long-term detriments while also clearly possessing a deep affection for the community to be found in it. Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra’s work behind the camera (on 35mm film) is largely to thank when it comes to capturing the energetic allure of New York City at night, as well as its chaotic beauty in the day.
This beauty is magnified as Peter begins to see the world through the eyes of Arlo. The connection between Firstman and young actor Reggie Absolom, who plays Arlo, is immediately clear and completely believable. Every actor in this film hits every mark. When they’re funny, it’s absurd. When they’re heartbroken, it’s devastating. Diego Calva as Arlo’s social worker and Peter’s romantic interest offers an unexpected story development, and the calm and curious quality he brings to the role makes for one of the most touching relationships in the film.
It’s a breath of fresh air to see what is, on the surface, a simple drama, be handled with so much poise. It’s the mundane challenges and the little moments of loving someone in a way you never thought possible that have the power to change your life. The incredibly emotional, but hilarious screenplay has more heart than you would expect from a movie about club culture. But with the small beauties come enormous heartbreaks, and it’s only thanks to a combination of smart writing and restrained performances that something truly magnificent is made.
Club Kid is a wild, surprising, tender, and funny debut with an extraordinary amount of love for its characters. And although it feels like Firstman was born to make it, I hope there will be much more to come.
Hannah Tran
Hannah Tran is a filmmaker, writer, and friendly neighborhood barista from Las Vegas. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Film and English and is currently working on her first feature film. In her spare time, she can be found attending film festivals, running a local book club, and, of course, devouring as many movies as possible.