Downtown 81 is a film that follows a day in the life of a young artist, Jean Michel Basquiat, who is trying to raise money to reclaim his evicted apartment.
He walks the downtown streets carrying a painting he hopes to sell, meeting friends along the way whose lives and performances we get a glimpse of.
After finally selling his painting to a wealthy female admirer, he is paid by check and finds himself low on cash.
He spends the evening wandering from club to club, searching for a beautiful girl he met earlier so he has a place to spend the night.
Downtown 81 not only showcases the rise of Jean Michel Basquiat as a prominent artist, but also provides a snapshot of the vibrant cultural scene in America during that time period.
This era saw the emergence of new wave music, new painting, hip hop, and graffiti, making it an exciting period in American culture.