“I never went to an art school, I just looked at a lot of things.” – Basquiat
A treasure…one of the most transporting depictions of the Downtown New York scene”, John DeFore – THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“Exhilarating, sensational…a loving portrait of those fabulously fucked-up bohemian days in the city”, Dennis Dermody – PAPER MAGAZINE
Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988) was one of the most important artists of the 20th Century. He didn’t just paint and draw, he was a poet, a DJ, musician & actor. His name went from a tag on the wall as part of SAMO, an informal graffiti duo who wrote enigmatic epigrams in the Lower East Side to the pinnacle of the modern art scene. His muse was music, he sampled everything around him, his style was copy & paste and his work payed homage to his heroes in the jazz world. He made being black the protagonist in much of his work. His legacy is indelible in the modern art scene and is a historical documentation of early 80’s NYC.
An Official Selection – Toronto International Film Festival 2017 & Official Selection – New York Film Festival 2017, BOOM FOR REAL weaves the story of Jean-Michel and the city with never before seen works, writings and photographs. Director Sara Driver worked closely and collaboratively with her friends and other artists who emerged from that scene: Nan Goldin, Jim Jarmusch, James Nares, Fab Five Freddy, Lee Quinones, Luc Sante and many others.
“Black people are never portrayed realistically or at all in modern art.” -Basquiat
As they participated in the film with their thoughts, period film footage, music, images, and anecdotes of their young friend, they helped visually tell the story of Jean-Michel’s downtown NYC –pre Aids, President Reagan, the real estate and art boom, and before anyone was motivated by money and ambition. The definition of fame, success and power were very different than today — to be a penniless but published poet was the height of success, until everything changed in the early 1980’s.
This film resonates with me in a very special way. This was MY town as I was growing up and coming of age. This is New York FUCKING City’s story before everything changed.
I’ll be attending a Press Screening this Friday and have a review soon thereafter.
Opening Theatrically May 11th!
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All art – Magnolia Pictures