Writer-director Ilya Chaiken's Liberty Kid focuses on two young men whose lives are drastically affected by the 9/11 attacks. Latino buddies Derrick (Al Thompson) and Tico (Kareem Saviñon), concession stand employees on Liberty Island, find themselves out of work when the Statue of Liberty is closed down following the terrorist attack. Increasingly desperate, the friends drift into small-time drug dealing and insurance scams, but Derrick eventually decides to repent and joins the Army on the eve of the Iraq invasion. Chaiken, whose storytelling style can best be described as oblique, kicks the plot into emotional overdrive during the third act, as the newly returned Derrick struggles to get his life in order while suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The acting is surprisingly naturalistic, with Thompson as the conscientious Derrick and Saviñon as the capricious Tico delivering believable performances (their byplay has an easygoing, improvisational feel that skillfully conveys the bond between the two young men). Clearly shot on digital video with a low budget, the somewhat uneven Liberty Kid makes up for its lack of Hollywood production values with passion and conviction. A strong optional purchase. (E. Hulse)
Liberty Kid
Kino, 92 min., not rated, DVD: $24.99, Nov. 11 Volume 23, Issue 6
Liberty Kid
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