Sneaker culturehas been blazing hot since the 70s, when rivals Adidas and Puma tried to outshine Nike and every other knockoff on the block. With each passing decade comes prized tennis shoes that are coveted by the less fortunate teens of the world and owned by those who truly do not appreciate them. But what happens when you strive to earn a pair of sneaks in a lower class neighborhood? They probably get stolen. And that’s the tale at the heart ofKicks. The first trailer has arrived, and it promises to be something very special, especially if you’ve ever owned a favorite pair of sneakers.
Following a world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, on behalf of Focus World we are excited to announce thatComplexhas debuted the first footage fromKicks. This exciting new release is in theaters September 9! So you better get out your best pair oflacesand tie one on, you don’t want to miss one of the most excitingcoming-of-agestories to come out in 2016.
His hard earned kicks just got snatched by a local hood. Fifteen year old Brandon and his two best friends must go on an ill advised mission across the Bay Area to retrieve these stolen sneakers. Featuring a soundtrack packed with hip-hop classics, directorJustin Tipping’s debut feature is an urban coming of age tale told with grit, humor and surprising lyricism.
Kicksstars an epic ensemble of up and coming talent that includesJahking Guillory, Christopher Jordan Wallace (Notorious), Christopher Meyer (“Wayward Pines”), Kofi Siriboe (“Queen Sugar”), and Mahershala Ali (“House of Cards”). Director Justin Tipping co-wrote the screenplay withJoshua Beirne-Golden. The film is produced by David Kaplan (It Follows), Adele Romanski (Morris from America), Joshua Astrachan (Short Term 12), Michael Covino.
InKicks, nothing is as simple as it seems. Fifteen-year-old Brandon longs for a pair of the freshesttennis shoesthat money can buy. He assumes that merely having them on his feet will help him escape the reality of being poor, neglected by the opposite sex and picked on by everyone. Even his best friends. Working hard to get them, he soon finds that the titular shoes have instead made him a target after they are promptly snatched by local hood, Flaco.
Seemingly the embodiment of menace, Flaco harbors complexities of his own that will be revealed when Brandon goes on a mission to retrieve his stolen sneakers with his two best friends in tow. Boasting a strong ensemble cast and featuring a memorable lead performance by newcomerJahking Guillory, the film transcends a deceptively traditional hero’s journey to deliver an entertaining and sobering look at the realities of inner-city life, the concept of manhood and the fetishization of sneaker culture.
Visually and thematically rich, with an amazing soundtrack of both hip-hop classics and Bay Area favorites,Kickscreates an authentic and original portrait of a young man drowning in the expectations of machismo and his love forsneaks. While it probably won’t capture the attention of the Academy as it enters a crowded award season,Kicksstands as a time capsule for this era, and looks to be a cult classic in the making. Take a look at this first ‘sneaker’ peek forKicksand hold on. This is going to be one heck of a ride.
