The movie Downtown 81 was insane, like a surreal glimpse into what my world could have been. It takes place around SoHo, and this entire summer I worked in SoHo, around the elite international travelers, the discreet boutiques and Broadway tourist traps. All of this is what makes the film so revealing: SoHo was nothing like that in 1981. It was dirty, abandoned, more like some parts of Brooklyn are now, and just beginning to harbor the Neo-Expressionist movement of the 80's in its galleries. The scene evolved downtown before Chelsea with its art dealers, clubs, artists(Basquiat even lived on Prince St. at one point) and tags. I read that Basquiat did not audition for the part, probably because he basically embodied the underground NY art scene and therefore was perfect for the role that portrays it.
In the film he goes around doing what makes this city special to me: meeting strangers or acquaintances and having experiences with them that take him on adventures. The best things in life are not planned as well as the best nights out. He goes out after being evicted from his apartment (which is semi-biographical because for 3 years he was actually homeless and at the time of shooting he was living in the production office) and tries to sell a painting to pay it off. He goes around to various clubs, settings and people's places. The plot resolves itself when a wealthy older woman interested in more than Basquiat's art pays for his work (at the time, Basquiat is actually dating a 14 year old actress who actually plays a model in the runway sequence).
The movie ends with him riding through Manhattan in a car he buys with cash from a random guy (although he didn't actually know how to drive) with a song called Cheree by Suicide playing, creating a beautiful, harmonic and cinematic moment to a film that shows you just how much things have changed for better or for worse.
Right now I'm reading his biography 'Basquiat' by Phoebe Hoban. Wicked interesting read.
Godspeed
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