Downtown 81 Screening at Station Beirut

Join Station Beirut as it hosts a screening of the film “Downtown 81” by Edo Bertoglio.

Synopsis:
“Downtown 81” is a feature film starring the legendary American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). Basquiat was a 19-year old painter, poet and musician when he played the lead in this film. He was still poised for fame but already his paintings and graffiti poetry (as SAMO) were part of the city’s grungy landscape.

“Downtown 81” captures a slice of life from one of the most exciting periods in American culture, with the emergence of new art movements, new wave/punk music, hip-hop and street art. The filmfeatures music and cast appearances from other Downtown NY celebrities like Debbie Harry, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Tuxedo Moon, Vincent Gallo and Basquiat’s own band, Gray. Although the film was shot in 80-81, it wasn’t until the late nineties that Maripol managed to recollect all the elements to post-produce and finally release the film in 2000.

Free entrance