Downtown 81 [Blu-ray]

Director: Edo Bertoglia, Edo Bertoglio Edo Bertoglia

Overview

Originally shot in 1980-81, this film, directed by Edo Bertoglio, is a rare real-life snapshot of ultra-hip subculture of post-punk era Manhattan. Starring renowned artist Jean Michel Basquiat (who died in 1988 at age 27) and featuring such early Village hipsters as Melle Mel, John Lurie, and Lydia Lunch, the film is a bizarre elliptical urban fairytale. The film opens with Jean (Basquiat) in the hospital with an undisclosed ailment. After checking out, he happens upon an enigmatic woman, Beatrice (Anna Schroeder), who drives around in a convertible. He arrives at his apartment only to discover that his landlord is evicting him. Later, while trying to sell his art work, he meets up with musician Arto Lindsay and his band DNA. Jean eventually does manage to sell some of his art work to a rich middle-aged woman who is interested in more than just his art, but she pays with a check. As the film progresses, he wanders the streets of New York, looking for Beatrice. He happens upon a bag lady (Debbie Harry) who turns into a princess when he kisses her. As a reward, she gives him a stack of cash. Abandoned in the mid-'80s due to financial problems, producer Maripol Fauque rediscovered the film and cleaned it up in 1999. It was screened at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/24/2020
UPC:	0738329244538
Original Release:	2000
Rating:	NR
Source:	Metrograph Pictures
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:11:00
Sales rank:	29,282

Special Features

Includes Commentary with Luc Sante and Lee Quinones; The Metrograph Oral History by Horacio Silva (Booklet)

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jean Michel Basquiat	Himself
Eszter Balint	Herself
Victor Bockris	Conversationalist at Mudd Club
Fab Five Freddie Brathwaite	Graffiti Artist
Clem Burke	The Felons Band Member
Lee Quinones	Graffiti Artist
Giorgio Giomelsky	The Landlord
Marshall Chess	The Thief
Danny Rosen	Danny,The Maid
Compton Maddux	The Chauffeur
Daniela Morera	Mrs. Cavalcanti
Steve Mass	The Drunk
Cookie Mueller	Second Go-Go Dancer
Tom Baker	Go-Go Bar Habitue
Ronnie Cutrone	Go-Go Bar Habitue
John Browner	Go-Go Bar Habitue
Larry Ratso Sloman	Go-Go Bar Habitue
Michael Holman	Michael
Betsy Sussler	Mudd Club Conversationalist
Patrick Geoffrois	Mudd Club Conversationalist
Amos Poe	Mudd Club Conversationalist
Tav Falco	Mudd Club Conversationalist
Diego Cortez	Mudd Club Fist-Fighter
Bradley Field	Studio Manager
Marty Thau	Record Mogul
Anna Schroeder	Beatrice
Walter Steding	Actor
The Plastics	Actor
Saul Williams	Actor
Tuxedomoon	Actor
James White and the Blacks	Actor
John Lurie	Composer

Technical Credits

Glenn O'Brien

Edo Bertoglia	Director
Maripol	Producer
Michael Zilka	Executive Producer
Edo Bertoglio	Director
Glenn O'Brien	Screenwriter
Michael Zilkha	Executive Producer
Robert Mayer	Sound/Sound Designer