TIFF’s “Club Kid” Makes the Party Scene a Family Affair

Get your juice boxes and YA books ready, because a social life typically sponsored by generous doses of G and K is about to become surprisingly kid-friendly. Jordan Firstman writes, directs and stars in Club Kid (B), a sharp contemporary dramedy about a New York nightclub promoter whose chaotic, self-absorbed existence is interrupted by the arrival of the 10-year-old son he never knew he had. In pristine 35 mm cinematography, Firstman captures the hedonism and hilarity of his after-hours Manhattan milieu while developing a genuinely affecting rapport with winning young actor Reggie Absolom. Diego Calva enjoys a plum role as both child therapist and potential adult love interest, while Miss Benny and a lively LGBTQIA+ ensemble keep the party buzzing. What distinguishes the movie most is its refusal to make its unconventional journey toward parenthood remotely saccharine. These lost souls may not resemble a traditional family, but they find a place to belong and create a prescient playlist when they do.

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