BOOM FOR REAL: THE LATE TEENAGE YEARS OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
2017 - USA - 78 MINUTES - IN ENGLISH
A FILM BY SARA DRIVER
WITH ALEXIS ADLERCARLO, MCCORMICK, LEE QUIÑONES, LUC SANTE, FRED BRATHWAITE AKA FAB 5 FREDDY, JIM JARMUSCH, COLEEN FITZGIBBON, GLENN O'BRIEN, JAMES NARES, FELICE ROSSER, JENNIFER JAZZ, MICHAEL HOLMAN, PATRICIA FIELD, SUR RODNEY (SUR), MARY-ANN MONFORTO
BOOM FOR REAL: THE LATE TEENAGE YEARS OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT follows Basquiat's life pre-fame and how New York City, the times, the people and the movements surrounding him formed the artist he became.
Using never- before-seen works, writings and photographs, director Sara Driver, who was part of the New York arts scene herself, worked closely and collaboratively with friends and other artists who emerged from that period: Jim Jarmusch, James Nares, Fab Five Freddy, Glenn O’Brien, Kenny Scharf, Lee Quinones, Patricia Field, Luc Sante and many others.
Drawing upon their memories and anecdotes, the film also uses period film footage, music and images to visually re-recreate the era, drawing a portrait of Jean- Michel and Downtown New York City -pre AIDS, President Reagan, the real estate and art booms – 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 1980s.
This is New York City's story before that change.
"not only captures the artist in his pre-fame years, but also the creative era in which he existed, and helped to shape."
- Exclaim
"Boom For Real is a fascinating documentary which tells the story of the cultural and artistic revolution that took place in NYC in the late 70s and early 80s. It focuses a lens on the late teenage years of, arguably, its most brilliant star; Jean-Michel Basquiat.."
- Windsor Square
"Beautiful movie"
- Daniel Garber at the Movies