MovieChat Forums > Ken Park (2003) Discussion > Is anyone's life really like this?

Is anyone's life really like this?

posted 17 years ago by somehope
18 replies | jump to latest

Be honest. I won't judge you. Does this resemeble your life or anyone's you know in anyway? I'm not for or againist the film in this message: It will just help me understand why some of the kids who appeared to have it all and were considered "normal" actually had some wounds too. We all judged each other and hated each other as humans for some reasons, but, even looking back as a 36 year old, maybe those who I envied had less than me if their lives were like this. (No bulls@@t-artists, please.)

[–] smack_munky 16 years ago

I'm 18 y/o now. If i resembled any character it would be Tate the most...although i haven't killed anyone. You've got to remember that it's dramatized to make a point, although i do have friends who's lives are pretty close to the other characters in this film... minus the group sex.

[–] somehope 16 years ago

To anyone who responds to this inqury, I thank them. When I was growing up, I didn't socialize too much during high school, but I'm getting better with time. Maybe I still am one of this characters, in spirit anyway. Still, I just want to see what's honestly going on or what I missed, either sadly or gladly missed, and I thank you all for your response(s)

P.S. I ain't a narc, or a therapist, just mixed-up in a different age group.

[–] Dabzz 16 years ago

Well, I'm British but I know people who live similarly to this, hell some of them are close friends of mine. I know a lot of people who smoke a lot and their lives are similar to the scene with Claude drinking and smoking with his friends. I also know lots of people younger than the portrayed characters that have had lots of sex, it's just becoming a part of life these days, and it seems every generation is getting a step ahead, as it were.

For reference, I'm 16.

[–] gumborific 16 years ago

Getting ahead in vice, but behind in intellect.

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] rrpostal 16 years ago

Thanks. "Getting ahead" was a pretty poor choice of words. I'd say experiencing too much stimulus before they can properly categorize and "experience" it. There's always an exception, but going with the statistical truths, too much stimulus (with too severe consequences)can be as bad as too little stimulus for the long term health and mental stability into adulthood.

Of course, I've also lived long enough to know better than to believe "all the kids are doing it". If nothing else, humans are a diverse bunch.

[–] gumborific 16 years ago

I agree. Well said.
As far as sexual and violent stimulus:
The accessibility of the internet has introduced every young person to every kind of porn and violence imaginable. While being caught watching a VCR tape for me at 13 was met by my parents saying "Do you have any questions?", today's parents have a much bigger challenge, even the ones that are trying really hard to monitor their children.
With film violence becoming more and more stylized (I am not preaching, I watch it too), a film like A Clockwork Orange is no longer THAT shocking, because you can see torture porn or a Rodriguez, Tarantino or Guy Ritchie film that makes death and the act of killing look "cool". Where movies used to concentrate on great plots and contained violence, many newer films contain violence and are shorter on plot, making the violence itself a main character and driving force of the film (torture porn comes to mind). There has always been pulp film, but now, many more films fall into that category. We are very far removed from plot heavy films like The Usual Suspects, and we are seeing many more films like 300. Again, I am not preaching, but the art of film is now reserved for special effects more than the more subtle mechanisms that make film great, you know, like that Hitchcock fellow. He was pretty good.

That's my two cents, anyway.

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] golden_filament 15 years ago

yea tate kinda reminded me of myself as a teen. my parents spoiled me rotten. giving too much and not enough discipline. I was also kinda shy so i didnt have that many friends. Actually i used to hang out with this little girl in my neighborhood too. like, hang out. not babysit. haha i was so lame. it was *beep* up. but i never killed anyone.

For every time your gun goes off,a new rebel is born

[–] HumanTheONLyRace 15 years ago

I've had a very similar relationship as Shawn does w/ his father and have been on my own since college(I had no choice though but too rough it out as it was very hard for me to make friends, seeing as I didn't fit in with many crowds at school or in my neighborhood). It was a lot worse than Ken Park as in I stood up for my self "more" verbally and even physically.(it's sad when a grown man of 40+ physically threatens or attacks a kid under 18 b/c they aren't what "they" want them to be") The thing he didn't like about me was that I did nothing as he would say "BLACK" how stupid eh?to sensitive(to him meaning not liking outdoor activities such sports etc etc).

The things he mentioned during numerous arguments...which would lead me to believe why he referred to me as not being "BLACK"(so stupid),

...you don't have any black friends!(rarely invited friends over only my bf who just happens to be black), the way I dressed or wore my hair. A *beep* idiot, and any parent who does the same or anything similar is a *beep* idiot.

In those scenes I can see so much in common w/ my step dad.

Him and my don't have the best relationship, hes rude, has no manors, a slob and a hypocrite; but my mom is one of those women who's super supportive of her spouse even if they're being mistreated.

Those were the worst day's of my life in addition w/ school. Hardest parts of the film to watch for me.

[–] jdsony 15 years ago

Not me but sure there are a lot of messed up people. More often than not it starts with a family member abusing their kid and then the kid becomes involved in drugs, sex, and more. I've known people who never admitted directly that they were abused but they said enough. They let people take advantage of them later in life. Sometimes it makes them stronger and they go on to life successful lives but not always.

[–] possum_y3k 13 years ago

Yeah, definately the smoking, drinking and promiscuous sex with all and sundry, it was just what we did here growing up, everyone slept with everyone and we drank alot. we just called it partying. that was when i was like 16-18, i'm 24 now and life has slowed down. i kinda miss those days.

[–] generouspalmstroke 13 years ago

I relate the most to Claude. My dad is also abusive like his own, and other than the incestuous tones our relationships with our fathers were similar: tension-filled, full of hatred, the impassive mom put in the middle of things but never standing up to the dad.

He also bullies me and calls me names as well, and has mocked my sexuality before like Claude's father did to him.

Like Claude I have experimented with sex at a young age and have little boundaries in regards to gender or anything.

Oddly enough I also resemble my mom a lot.

So while I come from a well-off, educated family... my life is somewhat like Claude's.

[–] Psychedelics8 12 years ago

Lots of people have *beep* up lives, without the weird sexual interactions.. the massive family and drug issues are prevalent everywhere and that is what the movie was made for. A lot of the murders and deaths are unrealistic and only done to prove a point of what COULD happen if you are left alone/not helped

[–] bboyminn 12 years ago

First this takes place in California. I think the 365 days of sun and warm weather drives people crazy. Plus, these are very VERY dysfunctional people living in a very dysfunctional part of California. This is not glamorous Beverly Hills, it the armpit low class suburban wasteland of California.

Notice in all the shows and movie about oversexed, drugged out, absolutely dysfunctional kids, the parents are even more dysfunctional. I don't know if you've seen the UK version of SKINS, but it is no wonder the kids are acting out given how clueless and generally absent the parents are.

I think that is the point, this movies isn't showing mainstream middle class kids, it is showing abandon kids who are fending for themselves under the worst possible condition. As a consequence, they are making the worst possible decisions.

So, yes, among these lower class armpit of hell dysfunctional kids, I think it shows them as the probably really are.

Steve

[–] DCI77 11 years ago

^ Good post.

2014: Whiplash, Cold in July, that Terrence Malick project set in Austin