There was an impressive debut in the recent Sundance Festival, also showed in cinema halls in Moscow. Director Tamra Davis presented ‘Radiant Child’ a film about his friend Jean-Michel Basquiat. Under the nickname Samo he became famous in the late 70′s thanks to his graffiti art. Jean-Michel sold his first picture to Deborah Harvey just for 200 dollars. Eventually, he befriended Andy Warhol. His genius is recognised worldwide and his future artistic career seemed as glittering as a dream.
Tamra Davis not only pays tribute to a friend in his documentary but also shows Jean-Michel as a true warrior struggling in a sea of public negligence and intolerance. As a successful artist he is forced to confront day-to-day racism and speak not only for himself but for the whole race. Despite the fact that he has made one of the most meteoric rise to fame, all seven years of his career were filled with doubts and loneliness. Jean-Michel Basquiat committed suicide at age 27. Another ingenious victim of fate following in the wake of his young gifted predecessors. And another brilliant documentary about the sparking and tragic life of an artist.