Downtown 81 is more dream than reality, softening the edges and rounding off the corners of a much rougher reality than the film depicts. The film is a day in the life of a young artist, jean michel basquiat, who needs to raise money to reclaim the apartment from which he has been. Apropos of this genre, downtown 81 is ostensibly low budget, quirky, but most of all, historical. In this building with the sortasecret japanese restaurant bohemian, native new yorker jeanmichel basquiat lived and worked until his overdose at that magical age of 27.
It follows basquiats character as he struggles to find a way to avoid eviction from his apartment. Although it was first shot in 1980, in the middle of the coldest fucking winter, the film was left unfinished until about 1999. Left incomplete due to money problems and assembled for release in 2000, downtown 81, which follows basquiat trying to move a painting while hustling for a place to sleep, became a window on a lost world of life on the margins and crazy creative ferment. Jean michel basquiat, john lurie, ted bafaloukos, tom baker, eszter balint, roberta bayley, snooky bellomo, tish bellomo. His life was short but rich starting out as a graffiti artist writing samo all over the east village, then later joining the punk rock scene with this band with vincent. Interviews with the artist, testimonies, art analysis, and documentaries such as jeanmichel basquiat. The film downtown 81 was shot before basquiats big breakthrough, but it was not released until much later.
Basquait himself, downtown 81 was a film project that was created in the 80s but wasnt completed because of financial difficulties. During those years, the films original dialogues were damaged and. The iconic and inimitable painter jeanmichel basquiat is our tour guide of sorts. Downtown 81 celebrates 15th anniversary in release check out. Downtown 81 is a looselystructured urban fairy tale and time capsule of 1981 lower manhattan in nyc, a musically vibrant and bombed out bohemia.
Downtown 81 is a feature film starring the legendary american artist jean michel basquiat 19601988. A tribute to jean michel basquiat ongiri, amy abugo 20020901 00. Unreleased until 2000 and newly restored in a sparkling 35mm print, the film endures as a fascinating time capsule. Jeanmichel basquiat was born in 1960 in new york city, where he died in 1988.
Downtown 81 jean michel basquiat anna schroeder giorgio giomelsky 2001 an artist jean michel basquiat tries to sell a painting while searching for a mysterious. Basquiat was a 19 year old painter, graffiti artist, poet and musician when he played the lead in this film, which vividly depicts the explosive downtown new york art and music scene of 198081. Try disabling any ad blockers and refreshing this page. This film, directed by edo bertoglio, written by glenn obrien and produced by obrien and maripol, is a rare reallife snapshot of ultrahip subculture of postpunk produced by downtown 81 a. Featuring john lurie, fab five freddy, and debbie harry, with musical performances by dna. But when he was still a struggling artist trying to settle on his vision, and make a name for himself, he starred as himself as a struggling young artist, working to raise the cash to prevent his eviction, in the low budget docudrama downtown 81, which celebrates. Downtown 81 celebrates 15th anniversary in release. Edo bertoglio new york beat film llcjeanmichel basquiatbarbican hughes may not have been a fan. Basquiat was a 19 year old painter, graffiti artist, poet and musician when he played the. An extensive and interesting collection of videos about basquiat. Swiss photographer edo bertoglio, and ontherise graffiti artist jeanmichel basquiat hit the streets of lower manhattan to make a movie about its bohemian milieu. With jean michel basquiat, john lurie, richard weigand, cyndy schneidau.
The bittersweet nostalgia of watching basquiat in downtown 81. Watch the trailer for downtown 81, starring jean michel basquiat. Downtown 81 by edo bertoglio edo bertoglio, jeanmichel. Starring renowned artist jean michel basquiat who died in 1988 at age 27 and featuring such early village hipsters as melle mel, john lurie. Made in 19801981, directed by edo bertoglio, and written and. The film downtown 81, shot in downtown new york between 1980 and 1981, is a cross between a documentary of the areas thriving artmusic scene and a dayinthelife story about a young artist played by jean michel basquiat. Barbican centre finally catches up with jeanmichel basquiat. After being released from the hospital, the artist jean michel basquiat wanders around manhattan trying to sell art to make money and find a place to stay. I was there and i know most of the people involved with the making of the film. It is also present the movie downtown 81, film starring basquiat and awarded at the 2000 cannes film festival. Born to a haitian father and a puertorican mother, basquiat left his family home in brooklyn, new york at the age of fifteen and took to the streets. Basquiat, the muchpraised artist who was 27 when he passed away, was given his first art supplies by the production team of downtown 81, the cult classic written by glenn obrien and directed. Downtown 81 1981, starring jean michel basquiat video.
Starring renowned artist jeanmichel basquiat and featuring such village artists as james chance, amos. Like an ignorant easter suit, jeanmichel basquiat on the set of downtown 81. These film clips were shot in 198081 during the filming of new york beat released in 2000 as downtown 81. Obrien was writing a script for a feature film about the downtown scene and he decided that basquiat should play the lead role. Starring the legendary american painter, graffiti artist, poet and musician jeanmichel basquiat 19601988, downtown 81 is both a postmodernist fairytale. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. For sale on 1stdibs original vinyl record soundtrack to historic film, downtown 81 featuring original sound recordings from jean michel basquiat, his band grey and more. Jeanmichel basquiat, self portrait, 1984 jeanmichel basquiatbarbican. Downtown 81 is at the very least an art film that happens to feature basquiat, as well as the stars of nyc circa 79. The sound was misplaced during the films incubation period, but in 2000 the rights to the film was aquired by the original directors and resurrected with voice overs, saul williams dubbing the voice over for.
It follows basquiat s character as he struggles to find a way to avoid eviction from his apartment. Originally shot in 198081, this film, directed by edo bertoglio, is a rare reallife snapshot of ultrahip subculture of postpunk era manhattan. Digital gym cinema jeanmichel basquiat in downtown 81. Jeanmichel basquiat in downtown 81 official trailer duration. The film is a day in the life of a young artist, jean michel basquiat, who needs to raise money to reclaim the apartment from which he has been evicted. Downtown 81 featuring jeanmichel basquiat full movie. Downtown 81 at the mudd club, basquiat met glenn obrien, who was known for his music column for andy warhols interview magazine, as well as for his show tv party. State of the art andy warhol and jeanmichel basquiat 1986 duration. Originally shot in 1980 81, this film, directed by edo bertoglio, is a rare reallife snapshot of ultrahip subculture of postpunk era manhattan. The film was loosely based on the downtown art scene, with basquiat playing a. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from jeanmichel basquiat. Drake nothing was the same deluxe version full album stream. Giphy is how you search, share, discover, and create gifs.
Downtown 81 is a 2000 american film that was shot in 19801981. In 1981, writer and warhol associate glenn obrien, swiss photographer edo bertoglio, and jeanmichel basquiat hit the streets of lower manhattan to make a. The radiant child, famous documentary film produced and directed by tamra davis. See more ideas about jean michel basquiat, jean michel and jean michel basquiat art. Jeanmichel basquiats studio and apartment art nerd new. Jean michel basquiat downtown 81 vinyl record set for sale. Now, 15 years after its nyc debut, downtown 81 will be available on dvd beginning june 30, 2015 by music box films and submarine deluxe.