movie poster

Downtown '81

2001

72 minutes

DramaComedyMusic

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.

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Top Cast

Jean-Michel Basquiat headshot

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean (archive footage)

Saul Williams headshot

Saul Williams

Jean's Narration (voice)

Anna Shroeder headshot

Anna Shroeder

Beatrice

Debbie Harry headshot

Debbie Harry

Fairy Godmother

Giorgio Giomelsky headshot

Giorgio Giomelsky

Landlord

Coati Mundi headshot

Coati Mundi

Self

Debi Mazar headshot

Debi Mazar

Peppermint Lounge Dancer

George Quinones headshot

George Quinones

Graffiti Artist

Walter Steding headshot

Walter Steding

Self

Steven Brown headshot

Steven Brown

Self - Vocals, Tuxedomoon

Eszter Balint headshot

Eszter Balint

Self

Kid Creole headshot

Kid Creole

Self - Vocals and Guitar, Kid Creole & The Coconuts

Fab 5 Freddy headshot

Fab 5 Freddy

Graffiti Artist

Arto Lindsay headshot

Arto Lindsay

Self

John Lurie headshot

John Lurie

Self

Michael Holman headshot

Michael Holman

Michael

Ted Bafaloukos headshot

Ted Bafaloukos

Junk Dealer

Elliott Murphy headshot

Elliott Murphy

Rock Star

Amos Poe headshot

Amos Poe

Conversationalist at Mudd Club

Lee Quiñones headshot

Lee Quiñones

Graffiti Artist

Chris Stein headshot

Chris Stein

The Felons band member

Kool Kyle headshot

Kool Kyle

Self - Rapper

Cookie Mueller headshot

Cookie Mueller

2nd Go-Go Dancer

Richard Weigand headshot

Richard Weigand

Doctor

Bradley Field headshot

Bradley Field

Studio Manager