Downtown '81

Overview

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. He wanders the downtown streets carrying a painting he hopes to sell, encountering friends, whose lives (and performances) we peek into.

Details

Cast

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean (archive footage)

Saul Williams

Jean's Narration (voice)

Anna Shroeder

Beatrice

Debbie Harry

Fairy Godmother

Giorgio Giomelsky

Landlord

Coati Mundi

Self

Debi Mazar

Peppermint Lounge Dancer

George Quinones

Graffiti Artist

Walter Steding

Self

Steven Brown

Self - Vocals, Tuxedomoon

Eszter Balint

Self

Kid Creole

Self - Vocals and Guitar, Kid Creole & The Coconuts

Fab 5 Freddy

Graffiti Artist

Arto Lindsay

Self

John Lurie

Self

Michael Holman

Michael

Ted Bafaloukos

Junk Dealer

Elliott Murphy

Rock Star

Amos Poe

Conversationalist at Mudd Club

Lee Quiñones

Graffiti Artist