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.
Credits
Downtown '81 Cast
| Name |
Character |
|
Debbie Harry
She was 56, now 79 years old
|
as Fairy Godmother |
|
John Lurie
He was 48, now 71 years old
|
as Himself |
|
Amos Poe
He was 50, now 74 years old
|
as Conversationalist at Mudd Club |
|
Debi Mazar
She was 36, now 60 years old
|
as Peppermint Lounge Dancer |
|
Vincent Gallo
He was 40, now 63 years old
|
as Himself |
|
Eszter Balint
She was 35, now 58 years old
|
as Himself |
|
Arto Lindsay
He was 27, now 71 years old
|
as Himself |
|
Cookie Mueller
She was 52, 40 years old when she died
|
as 2nd Go-Go Dancer |
|
Saul Williams
He was 29, now 52 years old
|
as Jean's Narration (voice) |
|
Coati Mundi
He was 38, now 61 years old
|
as Himself |
|
Jean-Michel Basquiat
He was 40, 27 years old when he died
|
as Jean |
|
Kid Creole
He was 50, now 74 years old
|
as August Darnell |
|
Ted Bafaloukos
He was 55, now 78 years old
|
as Junk Dealer |
|
Michael Holman
|
as Michael |
|
Chris Stein
He was 30, now 74 years old
|
as The Felons band member |
|
Fab 5 Freddy
|
as Graffiti Artist |
|
Lee Quiñones
He was 41, now 64 years old
|
as Graffiti Artist |
Downtown '81 Crew
| Name |
Department |
|
Edo Bertoglio as Director. He was 50 (now 73) years old
|
Directing |
|
John McNulty as Director of Photography. He was 121 (63) years old when He died
|
Camera |
|
Robert Maier as Sound Mixer. He was 30 (now 73) years old
|
Sound |
