Basquiat Documentary 'Boom For Real' Premieres in Milan

The documentary 'Boom For Real – L’adolescenza di Jean-Michel Basquiat', directed by Sara Driver, will have its national premiere in Milan starting August 10 at the Mexico and Palestrina cinemas, distributed by Wanted Cinema and Feltrinelli Real Cinema. The screenings coincide with the 30th anniversary of Basquiat's death on August 12, 1988 from an overdose. The film explores how the environment, art scene, social circles, and cultural movements of New York City from 1978 to 1981 shaped the American artist and writer. Driver states the film celebrates Basquiat's humanity, not his mythologization, noting that 30 years after his death he is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, who forcefully entered an art world previously reserved for white people.