Sara Driver’s exploration of the pre-fame years of the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, offers a window into his life and the City of New York from 1978-81.
A fresh perspective on the movements that touched and inspired him, as well as the influence a bankrupt, violent city had on this seminal artist, the film shows how Basquiat has become, over the years, the ultimate representation of this period, fed by its politics, the rise of both hip-hop and punk rock, race issues and the art scene itself.
In 1978, Jean-Michel was a teenager (18 years old), living on the street and sleeping on friends’ sofas in the East Village. He was shaped and formed by his friendships — those he influenced and those who influenced him. The crumbling City allowed them the freedom to discover and experiment with their work.
US 2017 Dir Sara Driver 78 min
This film is F-Rated. The F-Rating is a classification for any film which is directed by a woman, and/or written by a woman.
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Listen: Basquiat and Downtown on Spotify
Music had a big impact on Basquiat's art. Listen to a sample in our Basquiat playlist....
Long Read: Basquiat & Downtown
Tim Lawrence remembers the cultural renaissance that was downtown New York's music scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
