Downtown '81
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 (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
