Skate Kitchen

This film captured a nostalgia of close female friendships that some are lucky to experience. It was more of a captured experience than a film focused on a narrative arc. Would recommend.

Successfully using non-professional actors at the time (with the exceptions of Elizabeth Rodriguez and Jaden Smith) this quasi-documentary centers on the NYC female skateboarding collective known as Skate Kitchen. It falls short at times, but overall I found it another fascinating film from director Crystal Moselle (The Wolfpack).

Although I'm way out of the intended demographic of the movie, I still was quite engaged and interested in the characters of the Skate Kitchen. With the exception of the lead here Camille (Rachelle Vinberg), we really don't find out a lot about the backgrounds or history of these teens. Thus, the movie is more about the portrayal of female friendship and bonding at this age, with the, at times, inevitable crossing paths with some male skateboarders.

Not a film that I would expect to like, yet I was taken in by the intimate portrayal of these teens, while trying not to judge their futures.

Although this film reminds me greatly of the movie "Mid 90's" and The Sandlot, it still has a great story & concept. I can actually relate to this film as a previous skater (even though I'm a guy) because at the end of the day friendship is a very important aspect in the skating community. Many issues/ obstacles may arise, but as a skateboarder it's important for us to overcome it and grow. The main girl in this film did quite well as far as acting wise in my opinion. I DO feel like Jaden could work more on his acting but he's still at that learning phase. The cinematography and color Grading is dope overall! I could relate to both main girl & Jaden because I used to skate hardcore back in the day & take pictures & videos. This film reminds me of my ex who also skates in the NY scene with her girl friends and lives life to the fullest. Now this film isn't for everyone.. I feel like you have to be open minded to skateboarding as well as what today's youth indulges in. Everything pretty much shown in this movie is quite accurate of how the Ny scene (even Houston, TX where I'm from) can get down in the underground. Also too even though the film is a "taboo cult movie", this reminds me of KIDS from the early 90's but ofc a more cleaner/female version of it lol.

My wife and I watched this movie at home on DVD from our public library. It is somewhere between documentary and drama, all the 'actors' are girls who are members of the real Skate Kitchen group of skateboarders in New York City. It fairly accurately represents their real lives but the story itself is fictional.

The female filmmaker encountered two of them, with their skateboards, on the G train. Interested, she introduced herself and asked "are there more of you?" And that was the genesis of this movie. It takes place during one summer.

It is really a slice of life focusing more on one character living on Long Island, Camille, who just turned 18 and had some freedom to break away from her single mom's restrictions. She looks up a skate meeting event in Lower Manhattan, goes over to see what was happening, and gradually became friends with the others. There are the usual difficulties, including ridicule from the boys, but the girls bond.

I realize the movie contains exactly what the filmmaker intended, but I found myself wanting more. What kind of future do these young girls, and their young boy counterparts , have after high school? Will they be content with working at low-paying jobs to barely make ends meet while they spend most of their spare time skateboarding and watching their videos? What prospects do they have to climb a bit and pursue a more meaningful vocation? Or is skateboarding meaningful enough for them?

I can identify with all this because my own son was one of these skateboarding teens. Then he went on to a job as a bicycle messenger. By the time he got to be 25 he realized he didn't want to do that all his adult life so went to college and converted that into a good career. I will continue to wonder what the girls of Skate Kitchen will go on to.

I have not been able to find an explanation of their name, Skate Kitchen, perhaps it was inspired by the Manhattan area known as Hell's Kitchen.

//Revelation Film Festival Review//

Watching Skate Kitchen is like reconnecting with a group of friends you haven't seen for ages but upon meeting up its like not even a day has passed. It's a breezy, relentlessly entertaining coming of age story that's a delight to watch.

Set amongst the New York subculture, the story focuses on Camille (newcomer Rachelle Vinberg), an 18 year-old Long Island teen who runs away from home to join a female skateboarding posse called Skate Kitchen. Connecting with the group as a kindred spirit, Camille struggles to reconcile her strained relationship with her mother with her newfound sense of belonging. Much like this year's best picture nominee Lady Bird, Skate Kitchen will prove instantly relatable to anyone who struggled to fit in during their formative years.