Downtown '81

Storyline

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.

Top Cast

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean (archive footage)

Saul Williams

Saul Williams

Jean's Narration (voice)

?

Anna Shroeder

Beatrice

Debbie Harry

Debbie Harry

Fairy Godmother

?

Giorgio Giomelsky

Landlord

Coati Mundi

Coati Mundi

Self

Debi Mazar

Debi Mazar

Peppermint Lounge Dancer

?

George Quinones

Graffiti Artist

?

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

Junk Dealer

?

Elliott Murphy

Rock Star

Amos Poe

Amos Poe

Conversationalist at Mudd Club

Lee Quiñones

Lee Quiñones

Graffiti Artist

Director

Edo Bertoglio

Writers

Glenn O'Brien

Status

Released

Trailers & Clips

Recommended For You

Mystery Train

1989Movie

Beastie Boys Story

2020Movie

Last Days

2005Movie

The Crimson Rivers

2000Movie

Dark Days

2000Movie

Extreme Crisis

1998Movie

Joker

2019Movie

American Beauty

1999Movie

Green Book

2018Movie

Oppenheimer

2023Movie

More Like This

Kids

1995Movie

Donnie Brasco

1997Movie

Before the Fall

2004Movie

Crocodile Dundee II

1988Movie

Great Expectations

1998Movie

Red Rock West

1993Movie

Hackers

1995Movie

The Age of Innocence

1993Movie

Down to You

2000Movie

The Basketball Diaries

1995Movie
Downtown '81 (2001)