Boom For Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat — Trailer

added: Fri, Apr 20th '18

Check out the trailer for the upcoming documentary "Boom For Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat," which chronicles the early years of late 1970s and early '80s New York neo-expressionist painter and street graffiti artist Jean-Michel 'SAMO' Basquiat.

Featuring sit-down interviews and first-hand accounts from many of Basquiat's colleagues and close friends, the film is also a retrospective of the New York underground art scene during the dawn of the cultural punk-rock, new-wave, and hip-hop movements.

Underground New York filmmaker Sara Driver (When Pigs Fly, Sleepwalk), who is also known for her producing collaborations with her partner, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, directed "Boom For Real," which premiered back in September at TIFF, but will be released theatrically on May 11th.

synopsis:
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.

directed by Sara Driver

release date May 11, 2018