Downtown '81 backdrop
Downtown '81
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Downtown '81 2001 Directed by Edo Bertoglio

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.

Country USA
Production Country USA
Language English
Spoken Languages English , Japanese , Mandarin , Spanish
Gneres Comedy , Drama , Music
Production Company New York Beat Films
Release Date 13 July 2001
72 mins
Cast
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean (archive footage)
Saul Williams
Saul Williams Jean's Narration (voice)
Anna Shroeder
Anna Shroeder Beatrice
Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry Fairy Godmother
Giorgio Giomelsky
Giorgio Giomelsky Landlord
Coati Mundi
Coati Mundi Self
Debi Mazar
Debi Mazar Peppermint Lounge Dancer
George Quinones
George Quinones Graffiti Artist
Walter Steding
Walter Steding Self
Steven Brown
Steven Brown Self - Vocals, Tuxedomoon
Eszter Balint
Eszter Balint Self
Kid Creole
Kid Creole Self - Vocals and Guitar, Kid Creole & The Coconuts
Fab 5 Freddy
Fab 5 Freddy Graffiti Artist
Arto Lindsay
Arto Lindsay Self
John Lurie
John Lurie Self
Michael Holman
Michael Holman Michael
Ted Bafaloukos
Ted Bafaloukos Junk Dealer
Elliott Murphy
Elliott Murphy Rock Star
Amos Poe
Amos Poe Conversationalist at Mudd Club
Lee Quiñones
Lee Quiñones Graffiti Artist
Chris Stein
Chris Stein The Felons band member
Kool Kyle
Kool Kyle Self - Rapper
Cookie Mueller
Cookie Mueller 2nd Go-Go Dancer
Richard Weigand
Richard Weigand Doctor
Bradley Field
Bradley Field Studio Manager
Crew
Director
Edo Bertoglio
Edo Bertoglio
Writer
Glenn O'Brien
Glenn O'Brien
Producer
Maripol
Maripol
Cinematography
John McNulty
John McNulty
Composer
Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo
Editor
Pamela French
Pamela French
Sound
Robert Maier
Robert Maier
Art Direction
Maripol
Maripol
Makeup Artist
Claudia Porcelli
Claudia Porcelli